ANOTHER win and another two goals for Danny Graham as Watford comfortably saw off Carling Cup first round opponents Aldershot Town this evening (Tuesday).

Buoyed by the announcement of Scott Loach's call-up to the England senior squad earlier this evening, Malky Mackay's men took the lead early on through a fantastic strike from Graham.

Marvin Sordell scored his first goal of the season thanks to a wonderful flick from Lloyd Doyley as the first half came to a close and the early pressure and energy from Aldershot diminished.

Graham added another to his tally with a beautiful run on 48 minutes to finish off the Golden Boys' successful cup tie in Hampshire.

Malky made only one change for his side after their successful start to the season at Carrow Road last Friday.

Irishman Rene Gilmartin took the place between the sticks for Watford replacing Scott Loach, who was called up for the senior England squad earlier this evening.

After an impressive showing in Norfolk last week, Sordell continued to partner Graham in attack.

New signing Troy Deeney again took up a place on the substitutes' bench along with Dale Bennett who returned to the squad after missing out on Friday's victory through injury.

Inside the second minute of the game, Marvin Morgan tested Gilmartin, running up the pitch and taking on the 'keeper one on one. But the 6' 5" stopper was completely undeterred, taking a long confident stride to boot the ball to safety.

A few moments later, a backpass from Adrian Mariappa to his goalkeeper went wrong, leaving Gilmartin to watch as the ball slid past him, but thankfully it was well wide as Mariappa chased after the straying ball and Watford fans could again breathe a sign of relief.

But not for long as Anthony Straker then enforced a diving save from Gilmartin as he produced a powerful header from Ben Herd's through ball.

Some neat play between Graham and Will Buckley up at the other end for the Golden Boys saw Graham pass the ball across the box from left to right, to the feet of the former Rochdale striker.

But the ball was cleared before Buckley could get there and went out for an uneventful corner.

If the first five minutes were anything to go by, this encounter at the EBB stadium was going to be a hard fought battle.

As the rain lashed down, it set the scene for an unpredictable football match despite the pitch being in good condition. Both sides were confident on the ball, creating end to end attacks for the fans in Hampshire and everything that a cup match should be.

After a period of pressure from the away side and some neat passing between Don Cowie and John Eustace in midfield, the Championship side took the lead on 14 minutes.

Graham netted his third of the new season with a perfect strike thanks to a great pass from Sordell on the outside of the area.

Five minutes later, Sordell tried his luck at the target himself, chipping a close range ball over Jamie Young who had come out of his area. But, the shot had an odd angle to it and the ball was cleared out to safety for The Shots.

Aldershot's Morgan looked good on the ball in the area in the 21^st minute of the encounter, skipping through the Watford defence only to fluff up the end strike, causing the ball to roll into Gilmartin's gloves and causing little threat to the Hornets.

Doyley came to the rescue after a close range strike from Anthony Charles in the 24th minute was going straight for the back of the net, but the dependable defender made a strong clearance to save the Hornets from the equaliser.

The pressure continued on their one goal lead however, the home side creating any and every chance they could to go forwards and challenge Gilmartin in the box. The Irishman seemed calm in the spotlight though, making several confident saves for the 'Orns.

On 36 minutes, Doyley chipped a neat ball into Sordell but the effort was too high and the score stayed at 1-0.

With time almost up in the first half, some beautiful passing play and forwarding thinking from Watford provided the Championship team with their second goal.

Cowie set up the goal, floating the ball into the area and a neat flick from Doyley hooked the ball into the path of Sordell, in perfect time for the striker to bang the ball past Young and into the back of right corner of the net.

Graham scored his second goal of the evening moments into the second half, producing a stunning goal on 48 minutes.

The striker made a clear run through the heart of the Aldershot defence and finished off the job with a fantastic powerful strike straight past a diving Young and into the back of the net, to give the away team a three goal cushion in the tie.

Cowie was near to getting the Hornets a fourth goal several minutes later, when his calm chip from the edge of the area forced Young to stretch for the save, the home 'keeper just getting his fingers to the ball in time to save the League Two side from a four goal deficit.

The away pressure continued as the hopeful and battling Shots failed to successfully break enough, and when they did, Gilmartin's towering figure was ever-present in the Hornets' goal to preserve their lead in the game.

Watford skipper Eustace came off the field after 62 minutes to give Ross Jenkins a run out in the game and five minutes later Golden Boy Graham was replaced by new signing Deeney to partner Sordell in the Watford strike force.

Deeney got straight into the action, passing to Sordell in the box, but Sordell's shot was off-target and despite appeals for a corner, the ball was flagged for a goal kick.

After some positive play from The Shots, quick-footed Morgan fired a strong straight shot towards Gilmartin's goal, the goalkeeper relieved to see the ball go wide of the right post to keep his first sheet in the Watford goal clean.

Michael Bryan came on for the 'Orns in place of striker Buckley as the Golden Boys switched from a diamond formation in midfield.  

Aldershot were not ready to give up, substitute Danny Spencer attempted to take on Gilmartin with a close range one on one. The encounter saw the Watford 'keeper come off on top as he denied ldershot a chance on goal with a brave block.

The Irishman took a slight knock for his troubles, but with Loach posed to link-up up with The Three Lions tomorrow, the goalkeeper was able to breathe a sign of relief as all three of the Hornets' substitutes were used and Gilmartin was able to regain his full posture in between the sticks for the away team.

Busy striker Spencer had the perfect chance for a consolation goal for the League Two side on 88 minutes, beating Gilmartin with a long ball but the shot went wide, a relief for Gilmartin who was obviously struggling from the previous knock.

In stoppage time of the tie, Martin Taylor was called in to cover for the limping goalkeeper, his clearance header vital for the 'Orns to stave off the incoming Aldershot advances.

ALDERSHOT: Young; Herd, Vincent, Gutteridge (Small 67), Fortune; Charles, Harding, Panther (McGlashan 76), Straker; Hylton, Morgan (Spencer 67). Subs not used: Connolly, Jones, Clement.

WATFORD: Loach; Hodson, Mariappa, Taylor, Doyley; McGinn, Eustace (Jenkins 62), Buckley (Bryan 76), Cowie; Graham (Deeney 67), Sordell. Subs not used: Loach, Henderson, Bennett, Mingoia.

GOALS: ALDERSHOT; none. WATFORD; Graham (14, 48), Sordell (44).

BOOKINGS: ALDERSHOT; none. WATFORD; none.  

SENDINGS OFF: ALDERSHOT; none. WATFORD; none.

ATTENDANCE: 3,292 (743 Hornets).