Watford's hopes of survival boosted after win at Charlton (From Watford Observer)

Watford's hopes of survival boosted after win at Charlton

5:07pm Saturday 7th March 2009

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By Frank Smith »

A late Tamas Priskin strike handed Watford a vital away win and hammered another nail in Charlton's coffin.

The Addicks are almost certain to be relegated but it looked as though the home side were going to win this contest for large spells of the game.

The opener from Don Cowie, his second goal for Watford, was cancelled out by on-loan Tresor Kandol as Charlton went into the break 2-1 to the good.

Substitute Grzegorz Rasiak smashed home a stunning equaliser and then Priskin stabbed his sixth goal in seven goals with six minutes to go for another vital three points for Watford.

Jobi McAnuff, Jack Cork and Tommy Smith were all brought back into the side after being rested at Plymouth.

McAnuff caused a few problems early on and created the first chance when he beat Kelly Youga to burst into the box and cross but it was cut out and cleared.

Charlton fans were appealing for a penalty after six minutes when Lloyd Sam got in behind Jon Harley but the left back recovered in time to make the tackle.

Former Hornets Darren Ward and Matt Spring were starting for Charlton and after being given too much space, Spring dragged a shot wide.

Charlton had a stronger appeal for a spot kick soon after when on-loan forward Tresor Kandol was pushed off the ball by Harley but once more the referee rejected the claims.

Watford were allowing Charlton a bit too much time on the edge of the box and Nicky Bailey fired over.

Charlton enjoyed a spell of possession and they had a great chance after a mistake from both Watford centre backs.

Mike Williamson was caught napping by Sam and he put Deon Burton through, but the former Derby man had not seen the pass and it seemed the danger had passed.

But Adrian Mariappa allowed Burton to beat him to the ball in the box but luckily Lloyd Doyley was able to clear the cross before a Charlton player arrived.

The home side were slightly on top but then Watford scored out of nowhere.

A goal kick from Scott Loach was flicked on by Tamas Priskin to Smith who slipped Don Cowie in to power home.

McAnuff had a long shot go just wide after the goal and then Sam did the same for Charlton.

Then similarly to Watford, the home side scored out of nothing when Mariappa and Doyley got in each others way and allowed Kandol in to round Loach and score.

Charlton almost scored another minutes later when after some excellent play from Therry Racon, Sam crossed for Burton, who got in front of his marker but glanced his header just wide.

Watford were not helping their cause with momentary lapses of concentration and Mike Williamson was caught in possession once more, this time in his box, but Loach saved Sam's shot.

The visitors were on the back-foot and went behind when Spring's corner was headed in by Kandol.

The Leeds striker was in search of his hat-trick and hit the side netting minutes later.

Watford's hopes of a come-back suffered a severe blow when Smith failed to recover from an earlier knock and went off injured with around five minutes of the half to play.

But his replacement almost scored immediate.

Priskin showed good strength to out-muscle Mark Hudson and then slip the ball to Cowie, whose cross was headed towards the top corner by Grzegorz Rasiak but Rob Elliot made an excellent save.

Rasiak maybe should have scored from the resulting corner when McAnuff's cross fell to him five yards out but the angle was tight and he blazed over.

There were four minutes of injury time and deep into it Cowie had a free kick saved by Elliot.

Watford started the half a little bit brighter and five minutes in had a good chance when after good play from Cork, Cowie sent a cross in which Elliot could only parry to the edge of the box.

Priskin and Cowie got in each others way so Priskin tried to go round the defender and appeared to be brought down but the referee rejected the appeals.

Watford's goal in the first half came out of the blue and so did their equaliser.

The Hornets' two widemen had switched sides and McAnuff's cross from deep on the left-hand side was well controlled by Rasiak on the edge of the box and the Poland international swiveled and smashed in.

Mike Williamson was lucky to stay on the pitch in Plymouth and McAnuff was fortunate to not see at least yellow for a lunge on Racon.

Watford were starting to get on top and had a good chance when Harley received the ball in the opposition's box after a one-two with McAnuff but Priskin could not bundle in the full back's cross.

There was a scare for the visitors when Mariappa headed an in-swinging Bailey free kick just wide of his own post.

McAnuff was lively and tried a curling shot from outside the box but it was comfortably saved.

It looked as though Kandol was going to get his hat-trick when Racon put him through but Harley made a near-goal-saving block and the resulting cross was headed over by Bailey.

It looked as though the points would be shared but then a defensive mix-up by Mark Hudson and Danny Butterfield in the corner of their box somehow resulted in Priskin coming away with the ball. The Hungarian was one-on-one with Elliot and the striker lifted the ball over the keeper for what turned out to be the winner.

There were a few shaky moments at either end as the game came to a close, with substitute Zheng Zhi almost creeping a free kick past Loach at his near post with one of the last kicks of the game.

Attendance: 20,052.

Referee: A Penn.

Charlton: Elliot; Butterfield, Hudson, Ward, Youga; Sam (Soares 84), Spring (Zhi 68), Racon, Bailey; Kandol, Burton (Todorov 75). Subs: Randolph, Holland.

Watford: Loach; Doyley, Mariappa, Mike Williamson, Harley; McAnuff, Jenkins, Cork, Cowie,; Smith (Rasiak 40), Priskin (Lee Williamson 88). Subs: Lee, Hoyte, Lee, Cauna.

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