A TALE of two penalties at the Boleyn Ground as one team scored and one team missed their gifts of chances in the most pressurized Premiership game of the season.
Without a spot-kick between them all term it was almost written that Alan Wiley would be pointing to the mark in one direction or another as these two relegation-threatened sides went toe-to-toe in East London.
And so he did, leaving Darius Henderson to coolly convert his first half effort, before Marlon Harewood glaringly missed from the same spot just into the second period.
Hornets' boss Boothroyd made three changes following the bitter disappointment of defeat to Bolton Wanderers last weekend.
In the biggest surprise, deadline day signing Johan Cavalli was thrown into the starting XI replacing Hameur Bouazza, who ironically had played for Cavalli's father's Algerian national team earlier this week.
Boothroyd also decided to omit a 'keeper from his attack-minded bench.
Amidst a tense Boleyn Ground atmosphere West Ham kicked-off as Watford looked to repeat the winning feat of a fortnight ago, when they beat the Hammers 1-0 in the fourth round of the FA Cup.
Indeed it was just like being back in the Cup, or the 'Cup final' perhaps, as the Hammers' PA announcer proclaimed to the Iron faithful.
The Hammers have fallen from grace quite dramatically since their appearance at Cardiff in May, the same venue where Watford recorded their play-off success against Leeds.
The Welsh capital was also the same venue that Darius Henderson scored his last goal and Watford were awarded their last penalty kick.
Quirky then, that ten minutes in to this white-hot encounter Henderson was dragged to the ground by the outstretched arm of Anton Ferdinand after receiving Malky Mackay's long clearance, and Watford were awarded their first spot-kick since that fateful day, and the very first of this season.
With nerves of steel the robust centre-forward waited patiently as West Ham dallied, Calum Davenport was booked in the process, before comprehensively dispatching a left-footed drive into the bottom corner of the recalled Robert Green's net.
Watford were playing with all of their usual hunger and desire, but still found themselves with plenty to weather as West Ham looked for a route back into the game.
Just short of the half-hour point Bobby Zamora had without doubt the home side's clearest chance of the half, which should have yielded an equalizer.
Fed by Nigel Reo-Coker's sweet diagonal ball, Zamora worked his way to the edge of the box only to thunder his shot well over Ben Foster's goal with the outside of his boot.
Alan Curbishley, already bemoaning his luck with injuries, was dealt a further blow just moments later when Lucas Neill's afternoon ended prematurely yet again, forcing him to be replaced by Jonathan Spector
Zamora looked West Ham's most potent player and flashed another effort just wide of the England stopper just before the break.
Then, just into injury time Foster was tested more thoroughly as Yossi Benayoun broke into the area from a quick free kick, slamming his shots goal-wards and forcing a terrific reflex save from the Watford custodian.
Seconds before the interval the visitors could have doubled their lead as Mackay put a free header over from a Stewart corner, but with that they took their slender lead into half-time.
Curbishley's response was to introduce Argentinian Carlos Tevez for Zamora in the second period.
It was Tevez's call to arms and he didn't disappoint the home hordes as he swung over a 50th minute free-kick to within inches of the Centenary Stand goal.
Quickly after he was back in the thick of the action winding his way into the area, beating Foster comprehensively before seeing his hooked shot deflected wide by the courageous Mackay.
A scramble at the other end gave the impressive Steve Kabba his first chance, but a weak effort is all he could muster from his outstretched leg.
Before today Watford and West Ham had been the only Premiership teams not to have won a penalty all season, but having awarded the Hornets' their first half reward it was almost inevitable that referee Wiley would counter the balance.
Reo-Coker tore through the Watford half into space and making his way into the penalty area was clearly felled by the rash challenge from behind from Gavin Mahon. It left Wiley in no doubt, although Mahon escaped further punishment from the official.
This, you could sense, was West Ham's moment. But, having won the penalty Harewood contrived to push the spot-kick wide to the right of Foster as the 'keeper himself fell to the left.
Having produced a thoroughly accomplished job in midfield, former Istres man Cavelli was taken off for central midfielder Al Bangura and soon after Moses Ashikodi came on for the leg-weary Kabba.
With West Ham stretched at the back Watford began to get a few chances as the game grew and the Hornets might have had a second goal when Damien Francis volleyed Tommy Smith's cross towards the net, before eventually seeing the ball cannon wide off the unfortunate Ashikodi.
Ashikodi was booked as the game moved into injury time, as was Reo-Coker for a pushing match near the corner flag.
Soon after Boothroyd made his final change, brining on Dan Shittu for the goalscorer and hero Henderson.
Yet despite five minutes' worth of added time that was enough as Watford went on to complete an absolutely deserved victory. Without doubt the Hornets best performance of the season, which deserves nothing but praise for the manager, the players and the ever-faithful fans.
WEST HAM UNITED: (4-4-2) Green; Neill (Spector 30), Davenport, Ferdinand, McCartney; Benayoun, Quashie (Boa More 80), Reo-Coker (c), Etherington; Zamora, Harewood. Subs not used: Carroll, Dailly.
WATFORD: (4-4-2) Foster; Mariappa, Mackay, DeMerit, Stewart; Smith, Mahon (c), Francis, Cavalli (Bangura 75); Henderson (Shittu 90+2), Kabba (Ashikodi 78). Subs not used: Priskin, Hoskins.
GOALS: WEST HAM UNITED; none. WATFORD; Henderson (11 pen).
BOOKINGS: WEST HAM UNITED; Davenport (11 - delaying restart), Spector (66 - foul), Benayoun (75 - ungentlemanly conduct), Reo-Coker (90 - ungentlemanly conduct). WATFORD; Mariappa (75 - delaying restart), Ashikodi (90 - ungentlemanly conduct).
REFEREE: Alan Wiley
ATTENDANCE: 34,625
