WATFORD won this evening's local pre-season friendly with St Albans City, the Hornets stepped up the pace after the break and scored all four of their goals after the interval.

First Team Coach David Kerslake named a Watford XI including many of the club's younger squad players for the friendly clash.

The goals came courtesy of doubles from striker Will Hoskins and sub Jordan Parkes.

The Hornets included a number of current Academy players and graduates, alongside more senior members of the squad in Mat Sadler, John-Joe O'Toole and Hoskins.

Left back Jure Travner was also given a run-out for the Golden Boys.

Newly resigned 'keeper Jonathan North started in goal, while Lee Hodson, Rob Kiernan and Eddie Oshodi were all part of the back four.

The home side named a young team for the visit of the 'Orns.

The surface was slippery following a July downpour before kick off.

Watford were in their new all black away strip, while the home team were in all white.

Sadler had the first real sight of goal for the Hornets as his volley flew up and over the bar.

Julio Barnes connected with a St Albans corner on 16 minutes as he rose tallest and won a header at the far post, but he couldn't quite get the power to test North.

Hassan Sulaiman delivered a teasing cross three minutes later that nearly ended up in an own goal.

Oshodi connected with the ball under pressure and the ball flicked sharply off his boot and over the crossbar, much to his and North's relief.

The home side had settled into a pattern and a tremendous sweeping move nearly resulted in a goal on 23 minutes.

Captain Paul Hakim picked up the ball and slipped a ball through to Ricky Miller, but under pressure from defenders and with North scampering off the line, the defence quickly solved the danger.

The Golden Boys reacted well and after winning possession deep in their own half, O'Toole started a quick attacking move.

The ball was swept into the home half and Hoskins put a delightful ball through to Lewis Young who had moved in from the right flank.

His shot was smothered by home 'keeper Jake Palmer and then Hoskins followed-up by hitting another strike at the goalkeeper. 

There was a scare for the Golden Boys after a short break for an injury, when the play started again a ball over the top of the Watford defence caused confusion between the 'keeper and the captain. Kiernan was eventually called to clear his lines but there was a nervy few minutes for the 'Orns.

The Hornets started to carve out further chances in the final 15 minutes of the first half. Young delivered a great cross from the right but the energetic Henderson couldn't quite reach the ball.

The Geordie striker came further into the action shortly afterwards and he was getting the rewards for his hard work.

On 37 minutes, he had tracked back and helped out near the half way line.

He intelligently laid the ball off, turned and run, collected a neat pass and headed towards the penalty box, but his low ball couldn't quite pick out Young.

Two goals for Will Hoskins

St Albans City made two changes at the break but it was the Hornets who look fresh after the restart.

With four minutes of the second half gone, a tidy move from the Golden Boys saw Hoskins plant the ball into the path of right back Hodson.

He went charging into the penalty area but his low shot didn't test the 'keeper as it landed the wrong side of the post.

On 50 minutes Watford took the lead through Hoskins. A ball was played forward from the back by Sadler and Hoskins latched onto it and finished off from close range.

Then on 54 minutes the striker added the second as again he finished from close range after Young squared the ball inside the penalty area.
 
Henderson nearly added a third a few moments later when his intelligent curling shot went just wide of the post. 

Watford should have got that elusive third, after Hoskins played in Young he rounded the 'keeper but didn't get his shot in quick enough, so Palmer had the perfect opportunity to recover. 

Substitute Jordan Parkes had been on the pitch eight minutes when he scored the third goal of the evening.

His low strike crept past a bunch of players and past 'keeper Palmer.

Kerslake then utilised his substitutes' bench by bringing on Matthew Whichelow, Piero Mingoia, Billy Gibson and Marvin Sordell.

Parkes added his second of the game when he turned in a low cross with seven minutes remaining as the rain lashed down in Hertfordshire.

There was time for a later equaliser as sub Danny Green planted a well-struck shot past 'keeper North.

ST ALBANS CITY STARTING XI: Palmer; Sulaiman, Barnes, Peters, Baker; Maxwell, Mortimer, O'Donnell, Miller; Hakim, Roberts. Subs: Eames, Effiong, Magwood, Lamonaca, Quinton, Green, Kane, Soulard. 

WATFORD: North; Hodson, Kiernan (c), Oshodi, Travner (Parkes 65); Young (Whichelow 75), O'Toole (Mingoia 65), Brooks, Sadler; Henderson (Gibson 76), Hoskins (Sordell 65). Subs not used: Bonham (gk), Bennett.

SCORERS: ST ALBANS CITY; Green (89), WATFORD; Hoskins (50 & 54,) Parkes (73, 83).

REFEREE: M McLaughlin (Luton).