MOSES Ashikodi was the star of the show with his stunning double strike at Meadow Park.

The substitute who had spent just over a year out with a broken leg, stepped up to score an absolute peach to put Watford ahead.

Wood's equaliser courtesy of Jon Wordsworth just seconds later failed to take the gloss off the strike as the resolute Boreham Wood side gave the Hornets a thorough workout.

Ashikodi then put the Hornets ahead again as he nicked home Lawrence Hunter's free kick at the far post.

Hunter then made sure of the win when his identical free kick a moment later sailed into the far corner of the net.

The fixture gave the travelling Hornets faithful the opportunity to see the new look line up at Boreham Wood.

Ashikodi lets fly...

And although many of the faces were the same, it was the acquisition of the new 4-3-3 formation that created a whole new talking point.

One man who was also watching intently was former Hornet Ashley Young, who had dropped in to see younger brother Lewis in action.

The first chance of the game fell to Watford when Theo Robinson flew down the right channel and crossed for John Joe O'Toole, who somewhat over zealously blazed his effort over the bar.

Tamas Priskin then followed with similar results before Watford enjoyed a flurry of corners, testing Noel Imber further still.

John Eustace then delivered a pile driver from 20 yards out, but once again, the ball was sent flying over the wall to send yet another hard working ball boy on to the roof to fetch it back.

Sadler then despatched yet another corner into the 18 yard box for the throng of awaiting red shirts. Leigh Bromby was standing waiting at the far post, but his header narrowly missed the target.

Trialist Souleymane Bamba was certainly showing a composed touch for someone of a similar stature to Dan Shittu. Several times in the first 20 minutes, he calmly plucked the ball from mid-flight and stroked it into touch

Bromby was back causing havoc at the far post 33 minutes in when he had a claim for his header crossing the line, but referee Mr Burt waved play on.

Some excellent work from Jobi McAnuff saw him weave his way down the left flank after bringing the ball down superbly, beating his man and then laying the ball on for Ross Jenkins in the middle of the box.

Theo Robinson on the ball

His scuffed shot fell to Theo Robinson, who then saw his effort cleared off the line.

Despite Watford's several chances, the first half ended goalless and without a single threat on Mart Poom's goal.

John Eustace started the second half with a powerful free kick that dodged the wall and had to be held by Imber in the wood goal.

There was a touching moment when Ashley Young hung over the fence to high five younger brother Lewis as he warmed up along the touch line.

Aidy Mariappa then attempted to unlock the Wood defence with his pinpoint cross which found the head of Priskin. In one fell swoop it was goalbound, but again Imber proved enough of an obstruction.

Lee Allinson attempted to put the home side ahead with a long range effort after robbing O'Toole of the ball, but again the target was never in any danger.

McAnuff then danced his way into the box, dodging tackles aplenty, but the finish that so many hoped to see didn't materialise as his shot flew wide.

McAnuff tries his luck

There were wholesale changes on the hour mark when all but two of the first half men came off to be replaced.

Liam Henderson carved out the first of the new arrival's chances, whipping in a shot from the edge of the box which had looked to be every inch the goal, but for Imber once more.

Just as the game was settling into a lull, Moses Ashikodi stepped up to score an absolute stunner.

Tearing into the box from out on the wing, the man who had spent just over a year recovering from a broken leg made his way goalwards, stopped just inside the box and curled in a thunderous left footed shot which arrowed into the far corner.

Moses is congratulated by his teammates...

But while the travelling masses were still celebrating in awe on the terraces, Jon Wordsworth levelled proceedings with a header from a corner in which Poom seemed to be impeded.

Ashikodi was not about to let the headlines be taken away from him however and with five minutes to go, stepped up to toe poke home Lawrence Hunter's free kick at the far post.

A carbon copy move minutes later saw the same result, but this time, Lawrence was claiming the goal.

A great workout for the lads, and a great result for some potential new stars of the season.

BOREHAM WOOD (4-4-2): Imber; Burrows, Barber, Adeji, Wordsworth, Donnelly (Burgess 40), Morgan (Tison-Lascaris 55), Lee (Clements 80), Mason, Allinson, Watters.

WATFORD (4-3-3): Poom (Loach 60); Mariappa (Doyley 60), Bromby (Avinel 60), Bamba, Sadler (Parkes 60); Eustace (Bangura 60), Jenkins (Young 60), O'Toole; McAnuff (Hunter 60), Priskin (Henderson 60), Robinson (Ashikodi 60). Subs: Clarke, Mingoia.

GOALS: BOREHAM WOOD; Wordsworth (76). WATFORD (Ashikodi 74, 85), Hunter (88).