WATFORD'S reserves denied Charlton the opportunity to extend their lead at the top of the Pontins' Holidays Combination League after a goalless draw at Stonebridge Road.

Both sides had chances to break the deadlock and but for some poor finishing and a better delivery in attacking positions, the match could have had a very different ending.

The Addicks side had a familiar ring to it with Yassin Moutaouakil, Grant Basey, Paulo Monteiro and Cory Gibbs forming a defence that has already played together on numerous occasions at reserve level.

There was a return to action for midfielder Dean Sinclair after recovering from an injury sustained whilst on loan at Cheltenham and there was also a place in the starting XI for loanee Lee Cook.

Watford included two 36-year-olds in their line-up in goalkeeper Mart Poom and defender Matt Jackson whilst five others could boast first team appearances for the Hornets; Al Bangura, Lloyd Doyley, Cedric Avinel, Douglas Rinaldi and Steve Kabba.

With the chance to extend their lead at the top to five points, Charlton started brightly as Ben Godfrey saw his shot from the edge of the box well blocked by a yellow shirt in the fifth minute.

It was the visitors who had the first effort on target of the match though, but Ross Jenkins' sixth minute long range shot was easily dealt with by Rob Elliot in the Addicks goal.

Space was at a premium for both sides but when Danny Uchechi found some on the left hand side in the 11^th minute his pin point cross was headed goalwards by Sinclair, but Poom was in the right place at the right time to palm the ball away to safety.

Watford were well organised and halfway through the first period had a great chance to take the lead when Jenkins ran onto Bangura's long ball but Gibbs made a fantastic covering tackle to deny the teenager.

Five minutes later, the Addicks forged a great chance of their own. Cook sent in a swirling cross from the left and Uchechi arriving late in the box smashed a volley against the crossbar from about 10 yards out.

Just before the half hour mark, another gilt edged chance fell to the Hornets, but after a ricochet in the penalty area, Rinaldi failed to find the target when well placed in the 18 yard box.

Shortly after, a ball down right flank by Rinaldi found Kabba in plenty of space and when the striker was first to the ball ahead of Monteiro a goal looked an almost certain result, but Elliot pulled off a superb save low to his right to deny the former Palace man.

Things weren't going the Addicks' way as they struggled against a more experienced and robust Watford side.

Jenkins fired another long range effort over the bar as half-time approached, but it was the Addicks who came closest to opening the scoring before the break when another Cook cross from the left resulted in Sinclair heading wide under pressure from Poom.

The second-half started with a change apiece for each side with Sinclair making way for Rashid Yussuff and Cedric Avinel making way for Billy Gibson.

Watford substitute Gibson was instantly into the action slipping a delightful ball through to Kabba who squared for Santiago Aloi. The winger's shot was heading into the bottom corner but Elliot pulled off a fabulous reaction save to deny the Argentinean.

In the 55^th minute Gibson was involved again, this time striking a free-kick over the bar and the lively Jenkins shot wide from the edge of the area after a one-two with Liam Henderson.

In the 64^th minute Moutaouakil was replaced by England U16 international Chris Solly and gradually the Addicks started to get back into the game.

First Racon's left foot shot was blocked by Doyley then Yussuff's strike from just inside the penalty area was straight at Poom.

A typical jinking Wagstaff run from the right resulted in another shot straight at Poom in the 73^rd minute and a few seconds later Uchechi came close to scoring with a hooked lob over his head from an acute angle.

The Addicks were pushing for a winner and they got a late boost when Bennett, who was being run ragged by Wagstaff throughout the second-half, was dismissed after receiving two yellow cards in the space of a minute, both for fouls on the winger.

After the first offence the ball was played to Wagstaff on the right from the free-kick and he was promptly upended by Bennett for the second time leaving referee Halliday with no choice but to show a second yellow to the 18-year-old who trudged disappointedly off the pitch.

Charlton were making good progress down the wings but the final ball was lacking, that was until the 90^th minute when Basey planted a cross onto the head of Racon who somehow headed wide when unmarked in the penalty area.

It was the best chance of the game for either side and it left the Charlton bench with hands on heads in disbelief as the opportunity was missed to stretch their lead at the top of the table.

CHARLTON: Elliot; Moutaouakil (Solly 64), Monteiro, Gibbs, Basey; Wagstaff, Racon, D Sinclair (Yussuff 46), Cook; Uchechi, Godfrey. Subs not used: Woolley, Rygaard-Jensen, Harkin.

WATFORD: Poom; Doyley, Jackson, Avinel (Gibson 46), Bennett; Rinaldi (Forbes 70), Bangura, Jenkins, Aloi (Young 76); L Henderson, Kabba. Subs not used: North, Beech.

BOOKED: Bennett (unsporting behaviour, 80)

SENDINGS OFF: Bennett (second bookable offence, 81).