Joe Garner misses penalty as Watford draw 1-1 with Boreham Wood

10:07pm Tuesday 17th July 2012 in Watford FC News

Watford’s pre-season campaign started with a 1-1 draw at Boreham Wood after Joe Garner was unable to convert a second-half penalty with the scores level.

The Hornets played two different sides in each half and trialists Daniel Pudil and Almen Abdi both played in the second 45, with Matej Vydra watching from the sidelines.

Watford were without goalkeeper Scott Loach due to his pending move to Ipswich Town and there were a number of players who were not involved as they have not trained at points this week, including Sean Murray, Lloyd Doyley and Britt Assombalonga The visitors took the lead when Piero Mingoia tapped in from close range but Boreham Wood equalised with a lovely chip by David Hutton.

Watford were on the back foot immediately at Meadow Park as Inih Effiong saw a 20-yard shot go narrowly wide inside the opening minute.

The visitors took the lead soon after though when Mingoia tapped in from close range from Prince Buaben’s low cross.

This was followed by a period of pressure from Boreham Wood. Elliott Buchanan curled an effort from 20 yards narrowly wide and then Hutton tried an ambitious chip from distance in a matter of minutes.

But Hutton bettered that effort two minutes later when Jonathan Bond was caught out of position and the midfielder, who was part of the Glenn Hoddle Academy in Spain, found the top corner with a chip from wide left, despite the best efforts of David Mirfin.

Watford could have gone behind not long after when Boreham Wood were through two-on-one against Nyron Nosworthy. The defender held up Wood’s strikers but Bond had to be at full stretch to deny Effiong’s first-time strike.

It was a poor first half from the Hornets and one of the few bright points was the performance of Mingoia, who forced James Russell into a routine stop midway through the half.

Buaben had a shot deflected over and Forsyth also headed wayward but the first half ended with little excitement.

Watford were more solid defensively after the break but it was another uneventful half on the whole.

Garner had a shot saved at the near post ten minutes after the restart and also had the best chance of the second half around the hour mark when he was bundled over in the box.

The striker struck his spot kick powerfully but it was too close to Russell and he parried it away.

Yeates had a free kick deflected wide and Abdi had a shotblocked by Garner’s face but Watford had to wait until the final ten minutes before really testing Boreham Wood again when Matty Whichelow’s well-struck effort from distance was gathered at the second attempt by replacement keeper Daniel Lewis.

Boreham Wood found chances harder to come by in the second half but had a couple of decent efforts late on.

Substitute Sam Doolan headed over from a dangerous Graeme Montgomery cross and then with five minutes left, captain Mario Noto sent a free kick narrowly wide.

Boreham Wood: Russell (Lewis 75); Ferrell (Close HT), Garrard, Reynolds (Doolan 80), Nunn; Hutton (Hastings 75), Noto, Isaac, Montgomery; Buchanan (Riza HT), Effiong (Hastings 63).

Watford first half XI: Bond; Hodson, Nosworthy, Mirfin, Dickinson; Eustace, Buaben, Forsyth; Massey, Iwelumo, Mingoia.

Watford second half XI: Bonham; Bennett, Hoban, Taylor, Pudil; Hogg, Abdi, Yeates; Thompson, Garner, Whichelow.

Comments(18)

radlettman says...
10:32pm Tue 17 Jul 12

Based on tonight's shambolic display - we are going to need more than 2 or 3 new players. Too many players have come back unfit and out of condition - too slow - no touch - no movement.... absolutely dire !!! Credit to B/Wood for another gutsy and intelligent display - especially Chez Issacs.... WFC must be wondering why they released him...
Sorry Zola - you got a massive uphill battle.

Bond at fault with a poor kick that gifted Wood a goal but then made 2 great saves to redeem himself - but question marks must remain over Alec Chamberlain

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watford1881 says...
10:34pm Tue 17 Jul 12

Just got back from the match & I'm reasonably happy with what I saw.. We need to all get behind Zola & the players now... COYH...

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True watford fan says...
10:39pm Tue 17 Jul 12

the main problem with tonight was that he played a 4-5-1. when you play that you need to have a good centre forward. first half we had CI and the second we had JG. if either of those two play more than a minute this season the pozzo's scouting network is not what its cracked up to be.

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blokey says...
10:48pm Tue 17 Jul 12

Its a preseason friendly.They just all wanted to appear brilliant without making any effort to impress Zola.

Abdi and Mirfin looked tubby but
Dan the Czech looked fit as a butchers dog was good going forward.

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Holly68 says...
10:50pm Tue 17 Jul 12

Good crowd, Mingoia played well in a poor Watford 1st half. 2nd half was better, but lots of work to do. 22 players used, another 6 didn't play, squad of 28 with more to come in, so culling to start at some point.

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Watford Willie says...
10:51pm Tue 17 Jul 12

Difficult to judge anything on this one performance. A few points though. 2nd half better than 1st. solid performances from most of back fours. Yeates doesn't change. maybe a league 1 or 2 club will come in for him. Abdi looked off the pace and a bit one sided but spread the ball nicely on a couple of occaisions. Hogg and Eusty solid.Forsyth lost in centre mid. Thommo looks a footballer. Pudil looks useful.

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bushey tales says...
11:07pm Tue 17 Jul 12

It's funny, isn't it? If the Bassini/Dyche regime had just delivered a week which comprised potential incoming transfers of a 35-year-old keeper, a 39-year-old striker and a distinctly unpopular journeyman defender notable only for picking a fist-fight with Aidy, I suggest there might have been a few rumblings. Had they then capped the week off by allowing Mapps and Loach to leave, before scraping a draw with Boreham Wood, it's fair to say these pages would be getting warm. These are very early days, but let's hope the next few weeks bring a bit more encouragement. We don't want to start hearing those Vialli comparisons, do we?

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Frankie Frazer says...
11:29pm Tue 17 Jul 12

I can't believe anyone would go to the first pre-season friendly of the season and then come on here and tell Zola he has an uphill battle ! It's the first game he has seen and he is only trying to find out the basics about the squad .. IMO he would have found out the following:
Eustace & Hogg both solid, but I can only see one of them retaining a CM position
Yeates, Iwelumu, garner, mirfin & Dickinson didn't do enough.
Thought both trialists looked promising and when Abdil gets fit he could be a very good asset !
Thompson, mingoia & Bennett will push on for squad positions this season and Thompson looked very good playing out of position ..
Didn't see enough of Matty &massey to judge them
The prince & Forsythe showed glimpses but need to step up this season or will just fade away ..
Taylor looked the best CB with Nos a close second ..
Summary. We need Murray back in, 2 new strikers, a ball playing CM, another winger & another top CB to go with Nos & Tiny ..
Just my oppinion, but it could change after the next friendly !!
Think Almunia would be good but would prefer Cudicini even tho he is a bit older !!

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True watford fan says...
11:46pm Tue 17 Jul 12

i dont see mingoia doing anything this season. for me he's in the 'to be got rid of group.' i would also add forsyth to the list. no idea what glimpses you saw....thompson and bennett i agree with- both very promising. i would also say we need 3 strikers because at the moment we dont have one. we effectively need a new team apart from murray, eustace/hogg and nos/tiny.

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D.unstable says...
12:15am Wed 18 Jul 12

Frankie Frazer wrote:
I can't believe anyone would go to the first pre-season friendly of the season and then come on here and tell Zola he has an uphill battle ! It's the first game he has seen and he is only trying to find out the basics about the squad .. IMO he would have found out the following:
Eustace & Hogg both solid, but I can only see one of them retaining a CM position
Yeates, Iwelumu, garner, mirfin & Dickinson didn't do enough.
Thought both trialists looked promising and when Abdil gets fit he could be a very good asset !
Thompson, mingoia & Bennett will push on for squad positions this season and Thompson looked very good playing out of position ..
Didn't see enough of Matty &massey to judge them
The prince & Forsythe showed glimpses but need to step up this season or will just fade away ..
Taylor looked the best CB with Nos a close second ..
Summary. We need Murray back in, 2 new strikers, a ball playing CM, another winger & another top CB to go with Nos & Tiny ..
Just my oppinion, but it could change after the next friendly !!
Think Almunia would be good but would prefer Cudicini even tho he is a bit older !!
Pretty much a fair reflection other than thought Dickinson did ok. For me the stand out player tonight was the Czech lad in midfield Pudil, strong in the tackle and good work rate.

Cannot believe some of the early negativity though, only been back training for a week, first match using 20+ players, some out of normal position and a new system and they are written off.

We all know that their will be a number of comings and goings before the season starts, even then it will be work in progress, so suggest if you are only interested in supporting the finished article you don't get your first season ticket just yet.

Overheard Loachy talking about Zola wanting a more experienced keeper and that Cudićini or Almunia were likely to join.

I know it hasn't worked out for the boy in particular last season but wish him all the best, seems like a good lad who wanted to do the best for the club.

Think that Zola has a soft spot for Mingoia as he reminds him of himself, 3'4 with a low centre of gravity.

Finally, kit looked good, albeit missing numbers, names and a Happy Egg, prefer the black shorts and socks.

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SAHornet says...
6:49am Wed 18 Jul 12

2 questions:
1) Why is any player (Abdil & Mirfin in this instance) so unfit/tubby when they return from the break ? Very unprofessional.
2) Where is McGinn? Surely he has been training throughout the break given his injury last season.

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corbindallas says...
7:48am Wed 18 Jul 12

I think this was a good eye opener for Zola, to see what he has, Even with players out of position it still shows their ability at passing, closing own etc. One thing for sure it shows we need strikers to replace all our current ones, Interesting to see some of the squad not playing, Murray, Britt and McGinn in particular, would have thought McGinn was put on. Re keepers I would prefer Cudicinni but Alumunia is just as capable and either are vast improvements.

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jasonwatford says...
8:16am Wed 18 Jul 12

Ive stopped going to these pre season games as you can read nothing into them at all..a few years ago i watched a dreadful draw at Borehamwood even worse game at St albans......didnt go to norwich opening game as was live on sky thinking we were going to get tanked and we beat them 3-2 and they had won all their pre season games. These games are only to start to get fitness back and get up to speed with the pace of a real game. Glad Loach has gone and i dont mind an older GK who ever they deceide on. One thing is for sure even thou i didnt go last night Mark Yeats and Joe Garner must start looking to go as they are just not good enough at this level so why pay out wages to them ?

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Frankie Frazer says...
8:58am Wed 18 Jul 12

D'unstable, Pudil played at LB back and I thought he was pretty good hence the reason I think Dicko's day may be numbered! It was Abdil who who played in midfield and although i agree with others about him carrying a few pounds I think he looked really sharp and will only get better !
I agree ref Mirfin, if a player Is going to come back from pre season and want to prove himself to the club after being loaned out the season before you would think he would come back fighting fit and ready to show the manager what he's got, maybe he thought Dyche didn't want him and he was going to go back to Scunny! He may regret that decision in the long run, albeit he is prob not good enough when he is a stone lighter as well!

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D.unstable says...
9:12am Wed 18 Jul 12

Frankie Frazer wrote:
D'unstable, Pudil played at LB back and I thought he was pretty good hence the reason I think Dicko's day may be numbered! It was Abdil who who played in midfield and although i agree with others about him carrying a few pounds I think he looked really sharp and will only get better ! I agree ref Mirfin, if a player Is going to come back from pre season and want to prove himself to the club after being loaned out the season before you would think he would come back fighting fit and ready to show the manager what he's got, maybe he thought Dyche didn't want him and he was going to go back to Scunny! He may regret that decision in the long run, albeit he is prob not good enough when he is a stone lighter as well!
Thanks for the correction, it was definately the heavier of the two that looked decent and was the more involved.

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buckler says...
9:30am Wed 18 Jul 12

Heard Fat boy Mirfin was seen chugging on a cigar at half time! Move him on quick!

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Boxhorn says...
10:07am Wed 18 Jul 12

Check out Abdi on youtube. Oh my god that boy can score goals!

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Lady Phillippa Of Staines says...
8:27pm Wed 18 Jul 12

Rather noticable were the one or two rotund torsos returning from their summer holidays (on the pitch). The chests sticking out rather gave it away - I thought I ate too much

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