THE referee was at the centre of the action as the Hornets lost a two-goal lead to draw with Leicester City on Saturday (17 October) morning.

With the visitors mounting a valiant comeback in the second half, the officials denied the Foxes more from the game as two disallowed goals and a bizarre incident at the end of the match saw the referee blow the final whistle as Leicester broke out of defence, outnumbering the Watford defence.

With both teams breaking their respective huddles, it was clear the match would not be one for the faint hearted and it was the home team who got out of the traps the quickest.

Gavin Massey hit a snap shot that the Leicester 'keeper was equal to and denied the 'Orns an early opener.

The Hornets were in control and after a superb saving tackle from Adam Thompson, Matty Whichelow broke out of defence, with three on two he slipped the ball through to Fabrice Otshudi, but the rookie forward strayed offside.

Otshudi would prove to be a thorn in the side of the Leicester defence as he linked up with Theo Angus midway through the half.

Angus floated a precise ball into the channel which Otshudi latched on to force a corner which would lead to the Hornets first goal.

Fabrice Otshudi

Piero Mingoia played the ball out to Angus who curled in another delightful ball straight on to the head of Thompson, who powered in a header off the post for the opener.

The goal was just reward for the pressure from the home team, as they thwarted Leicester's game.

The steadying influence of Cole Penny was the starting point of the next move as he played a lovely angled ball to Mingoia who was in space on the right.

As the winger cut inside he was dragged down for what could have been a penalty, instead he jumped to his feet playing a ball just out of the reach of Kurtney Brooks who had found space at the far post.

With the clock ticking down, Leicester had their first opportunity of the game, after a corner found a man spare at the far post, the ball ricocheted out only for the snap shot to be expertly saved by Jamie Irving in the home side's goal.

The Foxes should have taken the lead minutes later as a header at the back post went narrowly over the bar, but the chance would pick the visitors up as they went in at half time with renewed optimism.

The second half would prove to be one to remember as a committed Leicester team had the first chance after the break.

After a ball between 'keeper and defender was well cleared by Andy Yiadom the resulting shot from the edge of the box was spilled by Irving, only to be cleared at the second attempt by Adam Fenwick.

Watford would add to their lead soon after as Whichelow combined with Massey, playing a great ball into the box straight to Otshudi, who tucked the chance away inside the six yard box to double the Golden Boys' lead.

Otshudi and substitute Jack Warburton would both have chances for Watford but Leicester would get the pivotal next goal.

After a long punt up field from The Foxes 'keeper, the Watford defence went to sleep, allowing a Leicester forward to latch on to the ball and finish well to get the vistors to get back into the game.

With Leicester pressing, the game kicked in to overdrive as after Otshudi saw his terrific curling shot saved, Leicester pumped the ball forward, with Watford stepping up to play the striker in the middle offside.  The ball drifted wide to a Leicester player, and as the defence stopped, the ball was tucked away for the equaliser only for the goal to be disallowed for offside.

Watford nearly then exploited a mistake from the Leicester 'keeper after he cleared a back pass poorly straight to Mingoia, whose shot was cleared on the goal line.

Piero Mingoia

Leicester had their second goal of the morning disallowed as the referee gave a free kick for a push at the back post, after the ball found its way into the net for the third time.

The vistors' goal was not far away as after a lovely angled ball found a Leicester man at the far post, his downward header bulleted past Irving to tie the game and give parity to the score line after the second half performance from the visitors.

With the game now end to end, Watford nearly capitalised from a poor touch from the 'keeper as Warburton tackled the stopper only to be denied, as he made amends for his mistake.

Leicester would reply with another chance of their own, after a great cross in from the left was headed narrowly wide.

With seconds remaining in the thrilling tie, there was yet more drama to come.

As Watford pushed men forward to win the match, a corner from the left broke down leaving four players bearing down on Brooks.

As it looked like Leicester would steal the points away from the home side, the referee blew the final whistle much to the dismay and tangible relief of Foxes and the Hornets' players alike.

WATFORD: Irving; Yiadom, Fenwick, Thompson, Angus; Mingoia, Penny (Warburton 60), Brooks, Whichelow; Massey, Otshudi. Subs not used: Hemati, Rosier. 

SCORERS: Thompson (24), Otshudi (51).

LEICESTER CITY (starting XI): Ambrusics; Moore, Hicks, Parkes (c), Taft; John, Milnes, Norburn, Schlupp; Chamberlain, Yussuff. Subs: Knight, Gill, Bryne, Tebbutt, Nogan.

Article by Matthew Pearson 

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