LEWIS Young salvaged a draw for a Watford XI side in their local derby date with St Albans City at Clarence Park.

Trailing to an earlier Simon Martin goal for the hosts, Young capitalised on a pinpoint cross from winger Billy Gibson to secure a share of the spoils in what was Watford's final game of pre-season.

First team fringe players Lionel Ainsworth, Adrian Mariappa and Al Bangura all started for a young looking Hornets' team, whilst former 'keeper Chris Day continued his recent trial with the club in goal

Meanwhile, Graeme Montgomery featured in what was his first trial game for the 'Orns after impressing recently for Wealdstone against Aidy Boothroyd's side.

As has become the norm this pre-season the opening exchanges were greeted by an early downpour which worsened as the game kicked-off.

Neither side created anything of great note in the first quarter-hour of this fixture; the best Saints could muster being a cheeky back heel from Simon Martin which was blocked near the line by Watford.

For the Hornets Lewis Young delivered a testing corner which just couldn't find the head of one of his colleagues, despite a number of forceful runs into the area.

The appalling conditions continued and it was certainly affecting the flow of the game with chances still at a premium on the sodden Clarence Park pitch.

Watford were looking to get Ainsworth into the game as he took a wide position on the right and it began to pay dividends midway through the half as the Golden Boys started to take control for a period of the match at least.

Having won a corner, triallist Montgomery floated over a teasing right-wing cross which skewed off the head of central defender Cedric Avinel.

Given the weather it was always likely a mistake would lead to the first real opening and so it proved when a statuesque Watford midfield allowed a simple through ball to find the feet of Simon Martin who stepped beyond the high line being held by the Hornets' defence.

Sprinting past the likes of Avinel and Mariappa centre-forward Martin should have done so much better as he neared Day only to push his right-footed finish well wide of the goal.

With 15 minutes to go in the half Watford hadn't had a shot on target and the on-looking Boothroyd would have been hoping for better before the break.

Further corners followed for St Albans and saving tackles were required from skipper Jordan Parkes and Mariappa as both sides scrambled for possession on the greasy surface.

With just moments remaining in the first half the hosts were denied an almost certain goal when the ball defied science to stay out of the net following Paul Hakim's looping cross-cum-shot that left Day grasping at thin air as it trickled to safety.

Half time saw Watford's manager for the night, Malky Mackay, withdraw Theo Robinson for fellow striker Liam Henderson, as the Hornets shuffled their pack up top.

With the night sky drawing in City started the brighter of the two sides and broke the deadlock just four minutes after the resumption of play.

The combination of Hassan Sulaiman and Jonathan Hunt worked to good effect down the St Albans' right and Hunt's accurate cross from the flank found Simon Martin lurking dangerously between the two Hornets' centre-halves, from where he would power home his headed effort.

Watford's response was fairly swift and it was substitute Henderson who had their first and most clear cut chance of the game, when he outpaced James Quilter and Ben Martin to latch onto a loose ball on the edge of the area.

Taking it on first time Henderson poked the ball towards goal only to be denied by the advancing Paul Bastock, whose save rebounded to Ainsworth, who then saw his first time lob sail over the crossbar.

Watford were suddenly enlivened and right back Lee Hodson became a key player, crossing time and again from the right in a bid to create chances for his team mates.

It was by now a much better display from the Watford boys and, deservedly, their reward came when they found an equaliser just past the hour mark.

With substitute Gibson introduced just moments before, the flying winger was able to make an instant impression when firing over a wicked low cross straight into the feet of Young, who had peeled off his marker to allow enough space to rifle his shot high into the net.

An almost identical move from Gibson should have signalled a second for the 'Orns, however on this occasion Henderson wasn't able to emulate Young's finish, instead watching his stretching toe-poke drop just wide of substitute 'keeper Chris Adams' goal.

Late on Bangura had penalty claims waved away as Mackay's men pushed for a winner, but it wasn't to be as the draw was played out under the lights at Clarence Park.

ST ALBANS CITY (4-4-2): Bastock (Adams 70); Fisher (Olcot 60), B Martin (Twomey 60), Quilter, Cousins (unnamed 60); Sulaiman, Bowditch (Archer HT), Ridgway, Hunt (Hicks 70); Hakim (Eames 70), S Martin. Subs not used: Grinham.

WATFORD XI (4-3-3): Day; Hodson, Mariappa, Avinel, Parkes; Jenkins, Bangura, Montgomery (Hunter 75); Ainsworth (Gibson 60), Young, Robinson (Henderson HT). Subs not used: North (gk), Lavers, Bennett, Clarke, Bryan.

BOOKINGS: ST ALBANS CITY; none. WATFORD; none.

SENDINGS OFF: ST ALBANS CITY; none. WATFORD; none.

GOALS: ST ALBANS CITY; S Martin (49). WATFORD; Young (64).

ATTENDANCE: 400

REFEREE: G Horwood.