IN spite of it all, somehow, just somehow the Hornets made it. Down to ten men, a goal down after 60 seconds and seemingly at our lowest ebb, it was all pulled back from the fire.
And much can be owed to the man closest to the hearts of all Watford fans, Tommy Smith. His goal in this one-all draw proved enough, just enough, to see the visitors home on Blackpool's famous north shore.
From fifth to sixth, from sixth to seventh and back to sixth - the first half was as tumultuous as the season that preceded it, as nerve ends and nails bore the brunt of the final day permutations.
In the second period things were to momentarily go from bad to worse and better in a three minute period that went a long way to helping the 'Orns secure their play-off status.
Darius Henderson, so often on the end of mind-boggling refereeing decisions this season, found himself taking an early bath when picking up his second bookable offence right on the hour mark.
It looked like it might end Watford's hopes of promotion, until that is, when Smith changed the landscape once again with possibly the most important goal of his career to-date.
His 63rd minute equaliser put the Hornets back in the box seat, or sixth place to be precise. It didn't help the nerves, but it settled the season that's for sure.
It was a much changed team that took to the field at a blowy Bloomfield Road, with Lee Williamson, Mat Sadler, Leigh Bromby and Nathan Ellington all restored to the first XI.
And D-day began with both sides knowing that a win was the only way to secure what they needed; Championship survival and a play-off place respectively. The stakes were high.
The teams were greeted by a cacophony of noise from Pool's drummers and insatiable crowd, whilst beach balls were the order of the day for the travelling 'Orns, who were making the most of their day at the seaside.
Aidy Boothroyd's side were quickly on the back foot in the opening seconds as Lloyd Doyley was forced to concede a corner under pressure - it was the start they could ill afford, but it was quickly to get worse.
The flag-kick delivery was flat and low, looking harmless, but out of nowhere Lee Williamson's attempted clearance went over his own head and, just a yard from the goal line, the ensuing loose ball was confidently swept home by Ben Burgess.
It took a few moments for Watford to react to the stunning start but in the fifth minute they got a corner of their own. It was slung in only to be handled by Darius Henderson, earning him an early booking.
Chaos in the Tangerines' penalty area in the tenth minute almost led to a Watford leveller as the ball pin-balled off a series of bodies before ricocheting just wide of Paul Rachubka's right-hand post.
The game was niggly, nervy and very, very open as both sides chased the vital three points.
The home side looked threatening going forward and Alvin Martin's son, Joe, fashioned a good chance as the half grew, heading strongly at Richard Lee from a right-wing centre.
Watford were still very much in this encounter though and again could have been level but for the heroics of Rachubka, who produced a stunning double save to deny Tommy Smith and then Henderson, after Ellington's left-wing cross wreaked havoc amongst the panicky Blackpool rearguard.
As the game approached the half-hour mark news filtered through to Lancashire that Sheffield United had taken the lead over Southampton, which pushed the Hornets out of the play-off places for the first time in the afternoon and indeed all season.
But, backed to the hilt by their travelling contingent - who were in fine voice - Watford rallied.
With just under ten minutes to go, Smith was scythed down by Martin, McAnuff taking the resulting free-kick which was punched clear by Rachubka.
Soon after a neat passing move resulted in Smith escaping down the right and sending a pinpoint cross to the head of Henderson, his header downwards looked dangerous but the Seasiders reacted quickest to clear under mounting pressure.
At the other end a rare break by the home side saw Ian Evatt shoot wildly into the side-netting.
Injury time at the end of the first half brought yet more incident. Most notably Henderson escaped punishment when he might have seen a second yellow for a robust body check on the Pool 'keeper, better still Southampton equalised at St Mary's to lift the 'Orns back into the last play-off place with 45 minutes of the regular season to go.
Boothroyd was hand delivered the scores at this point of proceedings and no doubt this will have had a major bearing on surely the sternest team talk of the season.
Watford emerged first from the break with no changes in their personnel, as they faced the biggest half of their campaign.
They looked bright too as they pushed up field, Ellington first to test with a reverse shot from an acute angle that went begging across the face of goal.
Blackpool were sitting ever deeper inside their own half, reticent to push too high up the pitch. It gave the Hornets a lot of possession, but inevitably left them open to the counter attack.
Wes Hoolahan tired a speculative effort at the other end, a low curling shot swinging wide of the outstretched Lee.
Hearts were in mouths just shy of the hour mark when again the Tangerines swept up the other end. Stephen McPhee's quick feet eluding Bromby and allowing him to fire off a shot that smacked back off the near post with Lee having little chance of making a save.
Henderson had been his usual self all afternoon, buffeting and barging defenders, but there came one challenge too many when Kaspars Gorkss went down from an alleged elbow. Sadly, it drew the striker's second yellow card and the 'Orns were down to ten men.
Out of darkness cometh light they say, and out of abject despair all of sudden an amazing equaliser came out of quite literally nothing.
Yet again Smith, Blackpool's main tormentor, tore away down the right. He had Doyley for company, but didn't use him, choosing instead to burst through and fire-off the most unlikely shot into the far corner of Rachubka's goal.
It sent the travelling 'Orns into delirium as they celebrated with Smith in what were wild scenes. It also entrenched Smith further into Watford folklore.
Blackpool were visibly shaken and Rachubka almost dropped the ball into his own net some seconds later. It was all happening, and mainly in their area.
McPhee had a golden chance with less than 15 minutes to go, but his low drive produced an instinctive stop from Lee.
Watford very nearly grabbed a second goal, when a Blackpool header from a Jobi McAnuff corner almost found its way home as an own goal but for a superb goal line clearance from Claus Jorgensen.
Watford were charging around the pitch trying to make up for their one man disadvantage as the minutes ticked away. Every passing second seemed like an age; Adrian Mariappa replaced Williamson deep in injury time, and it was the slowest walk of the midfielder's career.
But slowly but surely the seconds did pass and the whistle blew. It was greeted with relief, as were the other scores, which despite it all had gone in the Hornets' favour.
BLACKPOOL (4-4-2): Rachubka; Barker, Gorkss, Evatt, Coid; Hoolahan, Jorgensen, Southern, Martin (Morrell 75); Burgess (Holt 87), McPhee (Fox 87). Subs not used: Flinders (gk), Jackson.
WATFORD (4-4-2): Lee; Doyley, Bromby, Shittu, Sadler; Smith, Eustace (c), Williamson (Mariappa 90+3), McAnuff; Henderson, Ellington. Subs not used: Poom (gk), Ainsworth, O'Toole, Priskin.
BOOKINGS: BLACKPOOL; none. WATFORD; Henderson (deliberate handball, 6).
SENDINGS OFF: BLACKPOOL; none. WATFORD; Henderson (second yellow card, 60).
GOALS: BLACKPOOL; Burgess (1). WATFORD; (Smith 63).
REFEREE: Mr G. Laws.
ATTENDANCE: 9,640
