TWO goals from Hameur Bouazza , a cracker from Gavin Mahon and a first ever league strike from Tamas Priskin saw the Hornets come from a goal down to beat Portsmouth with a degree of comfort.

Priskin celebrates his goal

The visitors made the better start and deserved to take the lead when Taylor stroked home on 15 minutes but within another quarter of an hour, Bouazza's penalty had levelled things up.

In first-half stoppage time Mahon whacked the Hornets into the lead with a rocket from 20 yards and, 25 minutes into the second half it was 4-1 as Priskin and Bouazza added goals.

Pompey got one back with ten minutes left but Watford were able to play out time in the beautiful sunshine.

Aidy made four changes from the side which had performed so disappointingly at Middlesbrough on Saturday with Mariappa, Carlisle, Bouazza and Priskin in the starting line-up in place of Chambers, Shittu, Rinaldi and Henderson.

It was Clarke Carlisle's first Watford action in almost a year, since he injured his hip away to Queens Park Rangers last April.

The game kicked off in glorious Easter sunshine, giving the whole event an end-of-season feel and the conditions meant that the action was slow to unfold.

Watford had a decent penalty shout on eight minutes when Stefanovic appeared to handle Carlisle's flick on but referee Mason was having none of it and soon waved away the appeals.

15 minutes in, the visitors struck first.  A loose lay off from Priskin only landed at Taylor's feet and the midfielder strode on 10 yards before planting a precise shot beyond Foster's dive.

Taylor was totally unmarked and in acres of space - suicidal for a man known for his sharp shooting.

The goal knocked the Hornets back, allowing Portsmouth time to impose themselves on the game and enjoy the bulk of possession.

It was, therefore, slightly against the run of play when Bouazza equalised for the home side on 27 minutes.

A lovely piece of trickery from Priskin inside the box induced a reckless challenge from Traore, sending the Hungarian crashing to the ground.

After a slight delay in taking the kick, Bouazza stepped up and cracked it home, left-footed, sending former Hornet James the wrong way.

Hameur Bouazza levels things up from the spot

Encouraged by being back on level terms, Watford were playing with a new spring in their step and had another penalty shout for handball moments later.

That was followed by a great free-kick from Smith which had the visitors on the back foot, although a fine defensive header from Stefanovic kept them out of trouble.

Neither side was managing to put much together in terms of creating chances although Priskin remained lively up front for the home side.

The Hornets took a storming lead in first-half injury time.  Smith made a jinking run down the right and hoisted a cross into the box.

True to form, James came off his line and didn't gather the ball, parrying it down at the feet of the unrushing Mahon who crashed it home from 20 yards, rocketing into the top corner.

Mahon fires the Hornets in front

Half Time: Watford 2 Portsmouth 1

Neither side made any changes at half time as the Hornets looked to press on from their first-half advantage and it took just five minutes for them to move further ahead.

Bouazza charged down the left and slipped a lovely ball out to Kabba.  The former Sheffield United man swung over a first time cross which was met first-time by Priskin who finished clinically beyond James.

It was a lovely move and had caught the visitors napping and a fine reward for the Hungarian who had had his debut league goal against Wigan washed away in the December storm.

Priskin puts the Hornets 3-1 up

Seven minutes later, there was absolute chaos in the Watford box but somehow the home side emerged unscathed.

Portsmouth worked the ball in to LuaLua who had a shot blocked.  The rebound landed at Kanu's feet and the Nigerian hammered a shot onto the crossbar.

Foster tried to gather the rebound but had it headed out of his hands by Carlisle, giving O'Neil an opening, only for the midfielder to stab the ball wide.  A lucky escape.

Harry Redknapp responded by making a double substitution, sending on Niko Kranjcar and Rodolph Douala for Djimi Traore and LuaLua.

The game continued in end to end fashion with Watford creating another fine chance on 62 minutes.  Bouazza fed Francis in the inside left channel and, although the midfielder's shot was blocked, it landed invitingly at Priskin's feet.

Again a Portsmouth shirt got in a desperate lunge to block at the expense of a corner.

Redknapp's changes had left Pompey with just three at the back and Watford almost took advantage on 66 minutes.  Smith ran at the visitors' defence and slipped Bouazza in.  The Franco-Algerian only had James to beat but shot straight at the former England man, who saved well.

The game had become so stretched that further goals were inevitable, it was only a question of which side could take advantage - and it was Watford!

On 72 minutes, a great link up between Kabba and Bouazza saw the latter clean through for the second time in a matter of minutes.

Former Hornet James' disappointment is clear to see

Again James managed to save his initial shot, but Bouazza followed up and kept his head, rolling it in for the Hornets' fourth goal.

In desperation, the visitors made their third and final change on 79 minutes, sending on Mvuemba for Sean Davis and the Frenchman had pulled a goal back within seconds of coming on.

DeMerit's loose clearance from O'Neil's cross fell to him eight yards out and he finished emphatically to raise Portsmouth's hopes of stealing a point.

On 83 minutes, skipper Gavin Mahon limped off to be replaced by Al Bangura.

Bouazza came within inches of his hat-trick when he fired in a spectacular 25-yarder that had James beaten, only to whistle past the post.

A full five minutes of additional time were added on, with the usual nervy moments for the home side but they stood up to whatever Portsmouth threw at them and headed off to next week's semi final in the best possible form.

Just before time ran out, Aidy made his second change, bringing on Chambers for two-goal hero Bouazza and, a minute later, Doyley replaced Carlisle.

Line Ups

Watford: Foster; Mariappa, Carlisle (Doyley 90), DeMerit, Stewart; Smith, Mahon (c) (Bangura 83), Francis, Bouazza (Chambers 90); Priskin, Kabba. Subs not used: Lee (GK), Williams

Portsmouth: James; Pamarot, Stefanovic (c), Primus, Traore (Kranjcar 60); O'Neil, Davis (Mvuemba 79), Hughes, Taylor; Kanu, LuaLua (Douala 60). Subs not used: Ashdown (GK), O'Brien

Referee: Mr. L. Mason

Attendance: 18,119