WATFORD progressed to the next round of the Carling Cup after a long evening at Underhill as the impressive home side forced the Hornets into extra time.

The Golden Boys eventually won the tie 2-0 thanks to a strike from the excellent Mike Williamson and midfielder Scott Severin, but Barnet were a threat for large periods of the game and caused the away side plenty of problems.

The League Two outfit ran out of steam in the end as the Hornets shut up after they took the lead but the Bees kept goalkeeper Richard Lee on his toes and forced the stopper into a number of saves.

After the season started in sunny conditions at the weekend, the fine weather continued in north London.

A beautiful day in London carried on well into the evening as the Hornets arrived at Barnet's Underhill Stadium.

With three regulars away on international duty in captain Jay DeMerit, goalkeeper Scott Loach and key midfielder Ross Jenkins, boss Malky Mackay named his strongest possible line-up in the circumstances.

Lee Hodson was drafted into the defence after impressing Mackay over the years in the reserves and after training with the first team squad during pre-season.

John Eustace added some experience to the side in midfield, alongside new arrival Severin in Watford's engine room.

Finally, Lee started his first game for the first-team since September 2008.

Watford's Academy was well represented on the bench with 'keeper Jonathan North called up for the first time, meanwhile Michael Bryan continued on the fringes of the side.

Second year Academy scholar Kurtney Brooks, a tough tackling central midfielder, was handed squad number 36 and was also named on the substitutes' bench.

The Golden Boys were captained by commanding centre half Williamson, in the absence of regular skipper DeMerit.

The hosts had some familiar names on their team sheet, some of whom will bring back some happy memories for Watford supporters.

The evergreen Paul Furlong started in attack against his former side, while Micah Hyde was captain for the Bees.

Former Golden Boy Albert Jarrett was named in midfield after joining the north London club in July.

Meanwhile, French full back Kenny Gillet started for the Bees, he had previously turned out for the Hornets' reserve side back in August 2007.

The Carling Cup clash started in lively fashion with Watford supporters making for a good atmosphere.

The Golden Boys forced a couple of early corners in front of the travelling supporters who had made the short journey to Underhill.

Scotsman Don Cowie delivered both efforts and the second fell to Williamson at the far post, but his pile driver was blocked by a covering Barnet player.

Barnet reacted though and came back at the 'Orns, Hodson was forced to block a Jarrett shot after the former Hornet had cut inside and glanced up at goal.

Yannick Bolasie found Jarrett on the right flank on 12 minutes and he swung a cross into the box that initially looked dangerous but was eventually headed well over the bar.

There was plenty of effort from both sides as the game continued to jump from end-to-end.

On 16 minutes Eustace drifted into area, after he made his way past two defenders his deflected shot hit the side netting.

Then from the resulting corner, Severin picked up the loose ball on the edge of the 18 yard box and smashed a shot just wide of Jake Cole's left hand post.

Watford's assault on the Barnet defence with corners continued in the 18 minute as Ryan O'Neill needlessly conceded a corner kick.

Cowie again picked up the ball and this time delivered to Williamson at the far post - but he couldn't quite get in front of his man.

Lee had to be alert and off his line at the other end, a loose ball in the Watford box saw Furlong and Bolasie scampering to get to it and Lee was quick to spread his body wide and gather the ball safely in his hands.

Captain Williamson was outstanding for the Hornets at the back as the Bees stepped up their pressure.

He timed his tackles to perfection and was dominant in the air throughout.

However even he couldn't stop Lee's goal being bombarded by shots from the home strikers.

Firstly, after a corner kick hit to the back post, Adomah scuffed his shot wide, then just moments later forward Bolaise's swerving effort went just over Lee's crossbar on 31 minutes.

With the half ticking away, Mackay and his team would have wanted to get their troops into the confines of the dressing room to galvanise his troops.

The Barnet forwards grew in confidence as the half went on and Watford's defence found themselves under growing pressure as the minutes ticked on.

The Golden Boys were now attacking down the slope as the second half got underway.

But it was still the League Two side who looked the more dangerous, as they carried on where they left off at the end of the first period.

Hodson however looked like he had unlocked the Barnet defence after 57 minutes, after he clipped a lovely ball inside the area to Smith.

The former Derby player looked up and hit a ball to the back post but it was crossed with too much pace for anyone to get on the end of.

Just after the hour mark, former QPR 'keeper Cole had to quickly clear his lines under pressure.

The rushed clearance found full back Gillet under pressure and again he had to clear the ball with the 'Orns lurking.

But his diagonal cross field ball set up a scoring opportunity as eventually central midfielder Mark Hughes blasted an effort wide of Lee's goal.

Danny Graham had an effort ruled out for offside minutes later after a rampaging run from Jobi McAnuff, which had started well within his own half.

Referee Mr Steve Cook was increasingly stopping the game with fouls as the cup encounter struggled to flow as tackles flew in from both sets of players.

There was a scare for the Hornets as Adomah's deflected shot looked to be looping over Lee and into the net but thankfully for the visitors it eventually dropped the other side of Lee's crossbar.

With 74 minutes on the clock the Golden Boys won a corner kick.

McAnuff trotted over to take it and his deep kick was again aimed towards the towering Williamson at the back post.

His head met the ball but glanced across the goal and no one in Watford colours could direct the ball past the home goalkeeper.

Nathan Ellington had come on for the 'Orns in place of Cowie and he took his place in attack, providing further support to Graham and Smith.

The added presence started to pay off for Mackay's men as the Golden Boys created their best scoring chance of the game.

Smith was again picked out wide and his cross found the head of McAnuff but he diverted his header just wide of Cole's post.

McAnuff shortly turned provider as he threaded a lovely ball into the path of Ellington, but as he looked up towards goal, a covering Barnet defender made a tremendous tackle to stop a clear chance for the 'Orns.

As the end of normal time approached, the chances started falling to both sides.

Lee pulled off his best save of the evening as Adomah eyed up a scoring opportunity and picked his spot from the best part of 20 yards out.

It looked to be heading in until Lee produced a dramatic fingertip save to turn the ball round the post.

As the fourth official announced four minutes of injury time - the drama jumped down the other end of the pitch.

Lloyd Doyley had switched to right back after the introduction of Jon Harley in place of Hodson.

Doyley missed his best opportunity for a simple pass, but instead he decided to run at Barnet and after a quick one-two he headed towards goal.

However Cole was there off his line and plucked the ball out of the air and Doyley had to race back to defence to help out his under pressure colleagues.

With the scores level at 0-0 the teams headed back out for extra time.

Lee was called into action within the opening minutes as a loose ball dropped to Adomah in the area and he fired a low shot at 'keeper, but the Academy graduate had a safe pair of hands and kept hold of the ball under pressure.

Lee again had to be on his toes as Barnet tried to stretch the play wherever possible with their two quick wide players.

A ball was hit in from their left flank and Furlong's close range header was saved by Lee.

Watford hit back though and after a slow build-up the unlikely figure of Eustace smashed a shot towards goal following a delicate pass outside the box from Smith.

His deflected shot went wide of Cole's post as the Hornets forced a corner in front of the travelling supporters.

The atmosphere within Underhill was now cranked up to maximum as the home crowd made more and more noise as the first half of extra time was played out.

Watford started to carve out some goal scoring opportunities though as the Hornets forced two more corners that were again aimed towards the figure of Williamson.

However although both picked out the former Wycombe defender he couldn't direct his efforts past Cole in the Barnet net.

It eventually turned out well for the 'Orns as the third ball put into the area found Williamson and this time he made no mistake with a powerful jump and positioned header past the helpless Cole.

The centre half had looked a threat from all set pieces all evening and right at the end of the first half of extra time his presence had given the Hornets a priceless goal.

Brooks was handed his debut as the Golden Boys used their third and final substitution of the evening, the midfielder taking the place of McAnuff.

Barnet sub Jake Hyde failed to take advantage after Lee could only punch clear a threatening cross, the ball fell to him inside the box but he could only smash his effort over the bar as Lee stayed down on the floor.

Right at the end of the second period, Barnet had the ball in the back of the net but the referee had already blown up for a foul within the crowded penalty box.

Severin added a second goal in time added on as his low shot from distance beat Cole at his near post and went in off the post.

BARNET: Cole; Gillet, Hughes (Charles 112), Yakubu, Adomah; Hyde (c), Bolasie (Hyde), O'Neill (Devera 105), Jarrett; Leach, Furlong. Subs not used: Deverdics, Carpenter, Hart, Deen.

WATFORD: Lee; Hodson (Harley 89), Williamson (c), Mariappa, Doyley; Cowie (Ellington 63), Severin, Eustace, McAnuff (Brooks 110); Smith, Graham. Subs not used: Travner, North (gk), Hoskins.

BOOKINGS: WATFORD; Hodson (professional foul 60). BARNET; Furlong (professional foul 40), O'Neill (professional foul 43).

SENDINGS OFF: WATFORD; none. BARNET; none.

GOALS: WATFORD; Williamson (105), Severin (120+2). BARNET; none.

REFEREE: Mr S Cook.

ATTENDANCE: 3,139 (1,380 Watford supporters)