GOAL machine Tommy Smith went on a ram-raid at the City Ground this afternoon, scoring a delightful double to silence the Forest fans' boos, but it wasn't enough for even a share of the spoils as the hosts ran out victors in an exhilarating tie.

The former Derby County striker stole in twice to snatch equalisers for Aidy Boothroyd's side, but a third and final goal for Forest from the boot of Nathan Tyson was enough to condemn Watford to their first league defeat of the term.

Earlier, the Hornets defence had finally been breached for the first times this season by Lee Martin and Robert Earnshaw as they netted either side of Tommy Smith's opening goal in a tumultuous first half.

And as the goal chart tells, the second half was just as breathless as both sides attacked as if the title depended on it.

Watford manager Aidy Boothroyd made his first adjustment to the side for the third league game as he gave recent signing Grzegorz Rasiak a full start on the banks of the River Trent. That move meant for an all ex-Derby forward line - one sure way of getting the locals vocal!

Aside from Rasiak displacing Tamas Priskin - who dropped to the bench despite a midweek goal for Hungary - the side took on its usual shape and personnel.

Rasiak started his first game for the 'Orns

For Forest however, it was a slightly different story with injuries mounting up to mean for yet more changes to Colin Calderwood's XI. On a brighter note for the home manager though, he was able to welcome back Nathan Tyson and Andrew Cole to the substitute's bench.

Glorious sunshine - a real rarity this summer - gave it an opening day feel at the City Ground, a venue steeped in tradition and fit for a fiery encounter such as the one that was expected.

After a cagey opening it was the Hornets who got into the stride quickest, with two threatening attacks within the opening five minutes.

First of all John Eustace and Lloyd Doyley combined to good effect down the Watford right to play-in Lee Williamson, who struck a low drive just wide of Paul Smith's left-hand post.

It was then the turn of Jon Harley to come close to scoring when his audacious overhead kick dropped just high of the crossbar after Tommy Smith's cross was headed back into the area by Williamson.

However it was Forest, with their first chance of the afternoon, that opened the scoring.

After Eustace was taken out in the middle of the field, a Forest attack developed and despite Doyley's best efforts to block a low cross to the feet of Martin, it was the on loan Manchester United forward who was quickest to react, reaching the ball and dispatching a wicked long-range shot beyond Mart Poom into the top left hand corner of his net.

It might have been two just moments later when Jay DeMerit was grounded under pressure from Chris Cohen near the right-hand corner flag, allowing the Forest man a free run at goal only to shoot into the body of Poom.

Watford were being overrun in midfield and as Forest broke quickly in the 17th minute they struggled to contain the sprightly Earnshaw who spun Mat Sadler in circles on the edge of the area before careering a shot over Poom's crossbar.

Watford were doing well to hold out under the torrent of attacks and needed some form of release from the constant pressure.

That came in the form of a corner after Doyley's exquisite pass down the line released Jobi McAnuff who would earn the flag kick off the shins of Julian Bennett.

Seconds later the scores were levelled as Williamson delivered, Leigh Bromby cheekily back-heeled goalwards where Paul Smith could only smother the ball before his namesake Tommy applied the finish for the 'Orns.

Smith finishes off after Bromby's goalward effort was saved

Sadly despite the Watford celebrations the goal was also to signal the end of McAnuff's afternoon. Injured in earning the corner he trudged off to be replaced by former Forest loanee Will Hoskins.

It was a wide open game epitomised by the afternoon's third goal, which went in favour of the home side.

Guy Moussi's simple threaded ball found Earnshaw doing what he does best, hanging off the shoulder of the last defender, and with a quick burst of speed he was bearing down on Poom and was able to chip a neat finish over the Estonian and into the back of the net.

And with that Watford went in at the break facing their first reversal of the season.

The second half began as frantically as the first had been throughout, Martin firing off a volley that whizzed over Poom's head to signal their continued intent.

Most pressing for Boothroyd was how his side would get enough possession to get back into the game as Forest's stranglehold on the contest increased.

There was a glimpse of a route back in the 53^rd minute when Sadler provided a quick cross which Rasiak was just unable to divert into the net, instead scooping it into the Bridgford End where the Watford fans were housed en masse.

Sadler gets to the ball first...

Boothroyd's response to his side's ongoing struggle was to make a typically bold double substitution, brining on the attack-minded pair of Tamas Priskin and Damien Francis for Harley and Williamson.

Neither of them were involved next but the effect was had anyway as Watford again grabbed an equalising goal.

Doyley, as is now customary, had again escaped down the right on the overlap and his terrific low cross was smashed home on the volley by former Ram Tommy Smith, who had ghosted in at the far post.

Forest boss Calderwood made his first tactical switch 66 minutes in with the perennially injured Tyson making his comeback as a sub for Gareth McCleary.

Amazingly Tyson's first touch was for a goal, and possibly the easiest he'll ever score too.

Earnshaw smacked a free-kick back off the right-hand upright and being the quickest to react Tyson stroked a side-footed shot into the gaping net.

Could Watford possibly come back a third time? At least there was still time.

Local boy Hoskins came off the bench against his former loan club

As stretched as the game was chances kept flowing, Priskin unable to capitalise on a good one-on-one situation and then Earnshaw doing the same when staring at the whites of Poom's eyes.

More changes ensued for Forest, Emile Sinclair coming on for goalscorer Earnshaw and Cole introduced for another scorer, Martin.

There were penalty claims with just minutes to go as Priskin went down under challenge, but in truth referee Martin Haywood was never likely to point to the spot.

Watford were scrapping away 'til the death though and both Rasiak and Eustace went agonisingly close with a brace of late shots towards Paul Smith's net.

Tyson almost made it four in injury time but his low angled shot just crept beyond the outside of Poom's far post.

In the close it just wasn't enough for Boothroyd's side's valiant efforts, meaning with three played its one won, one drawn and one defeat.

NOTTINGHAM FOREST (4-4-2): J Smith; Chambers, Breckin (c), Morgan, Bennett; McCleary (Tyson 66), Perch, Moussi, Cohen; Martin, Earnshaw (Sinclair 83). Subs not used: Roberts (gk), Cole, Thornhill.

WATFORD (4-4-2): Poom; Doyley, DeMerit (c), Bromby, Sadler; McAnuff (Hoskins 26), Williamson (Francis 59), Eustace, Harley (Priskin 59); T Smith, Rasiak. Subs not used: Loach (gk), Mariappa.

BOOKINGS: NOTTINGHAM FOREST; none. WATFORD; none.

SENDINGS OFF: NOTTINGHAM FOREST; none. WATFORD; none.

GOALS: NOTTINGHAM FOREST; Martin (11), Earnshaw (35), Tyson (70). WATFORD; T Smith (23, 61).

REFEREE: M Haywood.

ATTENDANCE: 20,005 (1,374 Watford supporters).