IT was always going to be Mission Impossible at the KC Stadium tonight (Wednesday), but despite going out at the semi-final stage of the play-offs, Aidy Boothroyd and his charges can be proud of a valiant effort in East Yorkshire, as they gave Hull City a first-half fright night in their own back yard.

Knowing the opening goal was imperative in a tie that looked to be lost, a terrific travelling band of Watford fans were buoyed early on by Darius Henderson's 13th league goal of the season, after a free flowing move was finished with aplomb by the blonde bombshell.

And as half-time approached, the tide had most certainly turned in Watford's favour on the banks of the Humber estuary; but there can be no accounting for errors and experience sometimes, and it was veteran Nick Barmby who once again stole in behind the 'Orns back line to capitalise on their indecision and head the home side level.

It was to be the pivotal moment in the semi-final second leg and took much of the wind out of Watford's sails as they contemplated dragging themselves back into the tie all over again in the second period.

As they had all night, they did that with vigour and no little enthusiasm, but as they pressed hard for a second, the inevitable happened and substitute Caleb Folan finally killed off the tie with a headed goal that left Watford needing three more goals in 20 minutes just to level the game.

Further efforts from Richard Garcia and Nathan Doyle meant the record books will forever show that the comeback never happened, and it was those goals allied to Folan's, Barmby's and Dean Windass' strikes that sent Hull City through to a final date with Bristol City.

Hendo sets the ball rolling with an early goal

The Hornets' supremo, looking to mastermind his second promotion from this level, made three changes to the side that were beaten by two goals at the Vic on Sunday.

At the back Adrian Mariappa replaced Lloyd Doyley whilst Jay DeMerit slotted in to replace the injured Dan Shittu, who was still suffering from the effects of a hamstring injury he picked up in the first tie.

Meanwhile, Henderson resumed duties up top with Nathan Ellington as he came back from a one match ban. Speaking of bans, John Eustace remained in the side having seen Sunday's red card rescinded by the FA just yesterday.

Hull City manager Phil Brown kept faith with the same 16 that saw off the 'Orns in Herts just three days prior.

And so kick-off arrived, and with it the unlikely task of clawing back a two goal deficit started. Watford, all in red, defended from the kick-off, but only after a team huddle in front of the KC Stadium's South Stand.

The first incident of note saw a high kick from Ellington unfortunately connect with City's former Hornet Wayne Brown. Referee Clattenburg, understanding the enormity of the tie, was right to keep his cards in his pocket despite the protestations of Ian Ashbee and the Tigers' crowd.

Some moments later, in the third minute, the first effort of note was fired in by Eustace, but was coolly collected by the Hull hero of the first leg, 'keeper Boaz Myhill.

Late sub Tamas Priskin gets in on the action

Mariappa caused some major concern for Boothroyd as the game hit the 10 minute mark, when he headed back to Richard Lee, only to not realise the lurking danger of Frazier Campbell, who latched onto the ball and fired off a first time effort which was luckily blocked by the onrushing Lee.

The 'Orns always knew they needed an early goal, but my word, what a moment when they actually got it ahead of schedule in the 12th minute.

A neat move down the left developed at the feet of Mat Sadler and Jobi McAnuff and after some smart interplay in the box between Lee Williamson and Henderson, it was the burly striker who found himself just six yards out with the goal gaping - and he was going to make no mistake in smashing it low past Myhill. Game on.

The Golden Boys were temporarily reduced to 10 men when Eustace was ordered to the side of the pitch for treatment to a head wound, but it didn't hamper the visitors and the Hull crowd got even more tense when Sadler jinked into the area to feed Henderson, whose cheeky back heel hit the target.

Watford were all over them, winning all of the 50/50s and pressing ever higher towards the City goal as they looked for an aggregate leveller.

Barmby picked up the game's first booking for a late challenge from behind on Williamson just to add to City's increasing frustration.

But the home side were coming back into the tie and a flurry of corners greeted the halfway point of the period. Luckily, they came to nothing and the Hornets continued their hunt for a second with McAnuff again proving to be their main tormentor.

Heads, shoulders, knees and toes... all action at the KC

Hull skipper Ashbee saw a half chance come and go some five minutes prior to the break, but his header from Michael Dawson's corner went high over Lee's crossbar.

With McAnuff as inventive as ever on the left it was easy to forget the threat of Tommy Smith on the opposite flank, that was until a dangerous run and cross brought a corner for his side. Again though, it was well defended by the Tigers.

Then, at the other end, Watford's hopes were dashed by some hesitant defending. Forever speaking of route one football, it was somewhat ironic that Brown's side's equaliser came from the most direct of routes.

A lumped ball into the box was headed upwards by DeMerit, only to fall onto the head of Garcia, whose goal-bound effort looped over Lee, who was caught in no-man's land. It was then left for Barmby to nod home powerfully from close range and spoil the excellent efforts of the first 45 from the Golden Boys.

But still the 'Orns will have taken heart from a thoroughly comprehensive display in that half, and doubtless Boothroyd would have given them a ringing endorsement in the dressing room, whilst asking the back line to cut out the sort of errors that had cost them dear against Hull to that point.

To their credit they again started brightly, although Hull were clearly more confident after their unexpected leveller.

Making a charge for it... Eustace escapes the invasion

Sensing the urgency of the situation Boothroyd took just 12 minutes to throw on his benched striker Tamas Priskin, who replaced Mariappa, leaving the 'Orns with just three at the back.

Almost immediately the Hungarian striker was in the thick of the action, exchanging passes with Smith down the right before latching onto a through ball in the area and firing off a fierce diagonal drive at Myhill, who could only claw it away for a corner.

Hull made their first change just after the hour mark, freshening up their attack with Folan replacing the 39-year old scorer from the first leg, Windass.

Watford needed to press now and that left gaps at the back, stretching the defence to breaking point, and it was perhaps no surprise when the fleet-footed Folan took advantage of that to break into space and nod home unmarked from Garcia's right-wing centre.

Chasing the game was always going to be tough and so it proved for Boothroyd's brave side. Sadly though, that goal signalled the game being up for this season.

To their credit Watford kept going and Henderson was unlucky not to see a second hit the back of the net when Bryan Hughes cleared off the line following a McAnuff corner.

Lost in it all... Bromby and Williamson trudge from the field

Hull added insult to injury in the dying moments when Garcia tore through the back line with a jinking run that resulted in an excellent finish under Lee. Sadly, that sparked an embarrassing pitch invasion, which was replicated some seconds later when Doyle added a fourth as the game ticked over the 90 minute mark.

In the end Watford had saved their best until last in terms of free flowing, confident football, but it just wasn't enough to overhaul the Tigers who now move on to Wembley.

For Aidy and the boys, its back to the drawing board for the summer, but that isn't anything to be afraid of on this showing, as they did the shirt and the travelling fans proud at what was to become the season's end.

HULL CITY (4-4-2): Myhill; Ricketts, Dawson, Brown, Turner; Garcia, Ashbee (c), Hughes, Barmby (Fagan 72); Windass (Folan 63), Campbell (Doyle 78). Subs not used: Duke (gk), Walton.

WATFORD (4-4-1-1): Lee; Mariappa (Priskin 58), DeMerit, Bromby, Sadler; Smith, Eustace (c), Williamson, McAnuff; Ellington (Ainsworth 78); Henderson. Subs not used: Poom (gk), Doyley, O'Toole.

BOOKINGS: HULL CITY; Barmby (23 professional foul), Turner (67 professional foul). WATFORD; none.

SENDINGS OFF: HULL CITY; none. WATFORD; none.

GOALS: HULL CITY; Barmby (43), Folan (71), Garcia (89), Doyle (90). WATFORD; Henderson (12).

REFEREE: Mr M. Clattenburg.

ATTENDANCE: 23,155 (1,188 Watford supporters).