THE Golden Boys kicked off their pre-season friendlies with the traditional annual encounter with fellow Hertfordshire outfit Boreham Wood and a five goal victory at Meadow Park.
Striker Will Buckley scored his first hat-trick for the Hornets with Danny Graham and Stephen McGinn joining him on the scoresheet for the afternoon.
The only player missing out on the action was new signing defender Tom Aldred who tweaked his calf muscle in training on Friday.
Malky was keen to stress that he wanted all of his players to get a run-out against the newly promoted Conference South side stating before the match:
"We will be doing two halves. We will have as many players as we can playing 45 minutes on Saturday to give them their first run out."
Danny Graham had the first real chance for Watford inside the second minute of the game as he received the ball from skipper John Eustace across the box and the Hornets striker shot left-footed towards Overland's goal. But Boreham Wood were on hand to clear the chance off the line.
Youngster Adam Thompson did well a few minutes later as the home side surged forwards up the pitch to Loach's goal. The young defender cleared the ball confidently on the right flank and out for a corner.
Boreham Wood continued the pressure on the Hornets in the first 10 minutes of the game with several crosses from Morgan and Lee Allinson cleared from the area from Eddie Oshodi and then Loach took the ball safely into his hands.
A brave Dewayne Clarke took on Martin Taylor as the newly promoted Conference South side pushed forwards for the first goal but the 'Orns cleared the ball easily.
Will Buckley opened the scoring on 10 minutes, running smoothly through the Boreham Wood defence and sending the ball home.
Watford increased the pressure and Buckley added another three minutes later as Graham neatly slotted the ball in to him from the left and the young forward was on hand in the box to finish the job off.
Two minutes after setting up a goal for Buckley, Graham got his first of the summer with a confident drive through the final third and past a dejected overland into the back of the net. Under the burning heat of the afternoon sun, Watford seemed on fire on the pitch.
The home side did up their game however, forcing Loach to make a brave header to clear the ball from the outside of his area and then moments later, the tall 'keeper was called to action again.
But, true to the days form, the away team replied on 17 minutes. First, youngster Adam Thompson tried his hand at a close range strike from the right hand side of the box, but Overland got his fingers to it to palm it away. Scottish midfielder Stephen McGinn was on hand however to place in the rebounded ball into the back of the net.
Loach showed his class and quick-thinking as the England U21 'keeper was called to make a double save on 19 minutes as Boreham Wood showed their visitors they were not ready to give up on the game, despite the four goal deceit.
The referee enforced an unusual water-break with 27 minutes of the game gone, as temperatures soared to almost 30 degrees and the heat bore down in Hertfordshire. Watford manager Malky Mackay came onto the pitch to give instructions to his team and then play was resumed shortly after.
With half an hour of the game played, Lee Hodson showed his versatility and floated a neat cross into Buckley who was occupying a position the right of the box. But Overland was prepared for the strikers shot this time and Buckley was denied his third goal of the game.
A few minutes later, Buckley and Graham showed their talent at as a partnership with Buckley feeding a neat ball to the former Carlisle man on the right of the area with graham then crossing the ball for Mingoia on the wide left. But the ball was slightly too long and it trickled out of play.
On 40 minutes, the quick-footed Michael Bryan showed off his moves as regulars at Boreham Wood for Watford's reserve games would have been used to seeing last season. He weaved down the right, skipping past the Boreham Wood defenders but the winger was called offside.
Buckley got his hat-trick on 41 minutes, thanks to a sweet cross from Mingoia on the right which was finished off perfectly by the striker.
Malky Mackay switched his side over at half time, with defender Hodson the only player to stay as he was covering from the injured Tom Aldred.
There was a definite lull in proceedings at Meadow Park in the second half with Watford preferring to hold the ball and only push forwards a few times. Boreham Wood broke free and earned themselves a free kick on the left of the box. But the effort was safely received by Watford's new stopper Rene Gilmartin, the Irishman showing off his towering figure between the sticks as he effortlessly reached the high ball.
Up at the other end, Overland was called to make a double save after a Watford corner caused problems for the home side in the box., But the defenders were plenty and although Hornet Rob Kiernan did well to get the ball out of the busy box, his chance was palmed away by the Boreham Wood goalie.
The away side settled into their passing play, working well with each other in midfield but the heat of the day had clearly affected all the players, the energy and spirit of the first half replaced by dogged determination.
In a confusing minute off the pitch, Malky Mackay attempted to change things around and relieve Hodson from his duties after playing over 60 minutes but the referee wouldn't allow Michael Bryan to come on for the defender, as he had already been substituted at half time, so the youngster carried on.
On 78 minutes, new professional Matty Whicelwow attempted to put the Hornets six goal to the good, but his strike was blocked bravely by Overland as he came out from his line to receive the ball, delighting the home fans with his braveness. The Boreham Wood defence had clearly learnt by their mistakes in the first half and weren't letting their visitors in so easily now.
Ross Jenkins was the first player to fall victim to the heat on 80 minutes. The young midfielder was clearly struggling with the heat and his manager took the right decision and removed him from the pitch. But without a substitute to replace Jenkins, the Hornets were now forced to be down to 10 men.
With less than five minutes to go until the whistle, Whichelow made a great break through midfield and continued his run up to the edge of the area, firing a shot goalwards, but the brave Overland, determined to make an impression on the game saved at close range again.
WATFORD: Starting XI: Loach; Thompson, Hodson, Taylor, Oshodi, Bryan, McGinn (17), Buckley (10, 13, 41), Graham (15), Mingoia. Second-half team: Gilmartin, Doyley, Hodson, Mariappa, Kiernan, Bennett, Cowie, Jenkins, Whichelow, Henderson, Massey.
BOREHAM WOOD: Overland; Garrard, Kirby, Hunter, Moran, Fraser (Hunter 58), Clarke (Anson 84), Allinson, Seanla (McEwan 84), Stanley (Highton 35), Morgan (Brett 73). Subs not used: Hunter, Yala, Baker-Owers.
GOALS: WATFORD: Buckley (10, 13, 41), Graham (15), McGinn (17) BOREHAM WOOD: None.
