Hornets survive late scare to beat Doncaster 2-1 (From Watford Observer)

Hornets survive late scare to beat Doncaster 2-1

5:11pm Saturday 4th April 2009

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By Frank Smith »

Watford took another step towards Championship survival by holding on for a 2-1 win away to fellow strugglers Doncaster Rovers.

The Hornets were two up within 20 minutes thanks to an own goal and Don Cowie's third for the club.

The visitors had a late scare when substitute James Hayter scored with five minutes to go but Watford held on for the three points.

Scott Loach was excellent throughout and was forced to deny Doncaster a superb opener in the third minute when he parried away a vicious Martin Woods half-volley from 25 yards.

The Watford keeper then just beat Paul Heffernan to a through ball minutes later but the striker was adjudged to be marginally offside.

Doncaster were controlling possession in the early stages as Watford struggled to get their passing game going.

In the opening ten minutes the Hornets could only manage an Adrian Mariappa cross which was comfortably cut out by veteran keeper Neil Sullivan.

In the 12th minute though Watford scored from their first meaningful attack when Tommy Smith put Tamas Priskin in and, after a few stepovers, the Hungarian's pull-back was turned into his own goal by defender Sam Hird.

Doncaster started with a 3-5-2 formation and Mariappa again got forward to send in a perfect cross for Priskin but his glancing header was somehow tipped wide by Sullivan.

The visitors were on top by now and Mariappa was causing problems every time he went forward.

It was the fullback's burst into the box which saw him chip in another cross and, this time, Don Cowie looped a header over Sullivan for the Hornets second.

Doncaster had a penalty claim turned down soon after when Loach failed to collect a ball he told Ross Jenkins to leave and Paul Heffernan dived over the keeper's trailing arm.

Watford were pressing well which was frustrating the home fans and Rovers boss Sean O'Driscoll made a tactical change as early as the 32nd minute by bringing on forward Dean Shiels for defender Hird.

It was Watford who had the next half-chance though with Jenkins volleying over from 20 yards.

The home fans were becoming increasingly angry with Priskin, as the striker kept going down too easily.

In one instance Priskin showed exceptional skill by the corner flag to work his way into the box but instead of shooting, the Hungarian went down.

Watford made their own early substitution by bring on Doncaster-born Danny Rose for Cowie on 35 minutes.

Rovers had a spell of attacking as the half came to a close and Shields in particular was causing problems.

After the forward had a shot saved, Doncaster then had their best opportunity of the half.

Captain Richie Wellens had a close-range shot saved by Loach and then the rebound by Mark Wilson was blocked by Mariappa and eventually cleared.

On-loan midfielder Rose's first impact in the yellow of Watford came as he ran from his own half and sent in a teasing cross which no one could quite reach.

As the half came to a close, Shiels had a dangerous cross cut out by Jenkins and then the substitute almost grabbed a goal back in injury time with a curling effort that just went wide.

It was Shiels who had the first chance of the second half as he came inside Lloyd Doyley and struck a shot towards the near post but Loach saved with ease.

Rose grew up in Doncaster and would have liked to have seen more of the ball on his debut but when he did he looked lively.

Rodgers made his second substitution of the game in the 54th minute by bringing on Will Hoskins for Priskin and the former Rotherham man should have scored almost immediate.

A defensive mix-up saw Hoskins through one-on-one but the striker mis-hit his effort well wide from eight yards.

Doncaster almost made him pay moments later when the lively Shiels was put in but Loach came out and made a superb save low down. Both sides then went close with free kicks.

First Smith laid the ball to Mcanuff and the winger fired in a ferocious strike which was going in until it was blocked by the diving Mills.

And then Woods struck a free kick just wide of the post from 25 yards.

Doncaster's injury-ridden squad was boosted with the addition of loan signing Kazenga Lua-Lua last week.

The Newcastle youngster is the brother of former Portsmouth striker Lomana Lua-Lua and he made an immediate impact by turning an hitting a shot from 30 yards but it was saved by Loach.

Woods then saw another free kick just go wide of the upright, although his curling effort was unlikely to test Loach.

Doncaster had Watford camped in their half with more than 20 minutes to go but each time they attacked the Hornets scrambled the ball clear.

The visitors then had a couple of chances to add to their two goals themselves.

First Rose was sent down the left wing and the 18-year-old's cross found Hoskins but the striker's touch was poor and the defender cleared.

And then Mcanuff cut in on to his left foot and stuck a rising effort which was parried over by Sullivan.

After a moment of early hesitation, Loach did not put a foot wrong from then on and did well to hold on to a powerful John Spicer shot.

But the 20-year-old could do nothing about Doncaster's goal.

Substitute James Hayter, on the corner of the box, cut in on to his left foot and curled his shot inside the far post to make it 2-1 with five minutes to go.

Adam Lockwood saw a shot go well over and Jenkins had a half volley blocked in quick succession.

Watford could have had further chances to attack but each time they went to the corner to time waste. But it paid off in the end and they secured the valuable three points.

Doncaster: Sullivan; Mills, Hird (Shiels 32), Lockwood; Chambers, Roberts; Wellens (Lua-Lua 60), Woods, Wilson (Hayter 80); Spicer, Heffernan. Subs: Guy, Van Nieuwstadt.

Watford: Loach; Mariappa, DeMerit, Mike Williamson, Doyley; McAnuff, Cork, Jenkins, Cowie (Rose 35, Harley 90+3); Smith, Priskin (Hoskins 54). Subs: Lee, Stepanov.

Attendance: 12,126 (1,356).

Referee: G Laws.

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