WEDNESDAY night's encounter with League Two side Barnet proved the toughest test yet for the Hornets as they were defeated 1-0 at Underhill.

The determination and confidence on the ball from The Bees threw a spanner in the previously well-oiled works of Watford's pre-season campaign.

After letting several chances go to waste in the first half, the Golden Boys were caught out by local lad Ricky Holmes in the 77th minute.

Despite fielding a strong starting XI for the away side, including Don Cowie, Adrian Mariappa, Scott Loach and Captain John Eustace, Malky Mackay's men struggled against their Hertfordshire neighbours.

After impressing in Watford's first two pre-season games, Malky included first year pro Piero Mingoia and young striker Will Buckley in the line-up.

Danny Graham was the only player missing after injuring his nose in Saturday's 2-0 win over St Albans City.

French trialist Mana Dembele made the bench for the evening. The 21-year-old striker is currently with Châteauroux who play in the French Second Division.

Former Watford defender Jordan Parkes started for The Bees alongside trialist Mark Marshall.

Barnet had the command of the first few minutes of the encounter, with the ball in the Watford half the majority of the time and England Under-21 'keeper Loach uncharacteristically scuffing a goalkick giving The Bees a sniff at possession.

Piero Mingoia crosses the ball

But Watford carried the ball up, or down as it was due to the severe slant of the pitch, to the other end of the pitch and five minutes into the game Mingoia had a shot on goal, but it was slightly mis-timed and his volley swung over the bar.

With 15 minutes gone, the affect of the ski-sloped style pitch had the desired affect as Mingoia was fed the ball and he lead down the left flank, but one too many Barnet defenders were in the way of the prize and they did well to clear the danger.

Parkes sparked a nice bit of rivalry with his former team mates as he took on firstly Cowie and then Mariappa to win the ball for the home side down the left.

But Watford's experience got the better of Parkes and the ball was cleared to safety for the Hornets despite a valiant effort from the ex-Hornet.

Sordell was called into action in the box as he headed a ball clear from the line to deny The Bees a chance on 23 minutes as the home side continued to mount pressure on their Championship visitors.

The ever-present figure of Will Buckley was amongst the action in the Barnet half, as the young striker continued to show his potential after opening Watford's pre-season campaign with a hat-trick against Boreham Wood.

The former Rochdale frontman had a chance to put the 'Orns in front as the game neared the half hour mark, as he found himself on the right of the box in space. But his shot was just a little too high, tipping over the crossbar into the stands.

Will Buckley inside the penalty area

Barnet's Marshall, recently let go from League One side Swindon Town after only appearing 19 times in two years, gave the home crowd something to cheer about on 35 minutes.

Marshall's lightening-quick pace left Watford hanging on the right flank but his cross was slightly off, leaving Lloyd Doyley to bring the ball safely down for 'keeper Loach.

Fourty one minutes into the game, Sordell had another chance on goal, as Mingoia slipped the ball to him on the right of the area, but Sordell's shot didn't have the power on it required and with Barnet stopper Jake Cole diving the right way, the shot was saved.

Doyley delighted both sets of fans in stoppage time of the half as he ran towards goal, passing neatly out to Mingoia to then receive the ball, on the back of his head, on the right of the goal. But he was slightly too forward and his chance flew into the stands.

Within the first few minutes of the re-start, Barnet were working overtime in defence as Malky's half time words were obviously taking affect. The Hornets threw everything at the Barnet goal, but their defence were standing strong.

A jaw-dropping chance for Barnet came on 53 minutes, as Mark Byrne swung a curling shot towards goal, the ball looking very likely to hook over Loach and into the back of the net, but the ball fell slightly too late, leaving the scoreline level at 0-0 but a few of the Watford players aghast.

Watford's Marvin Sordell

Sordell again tested Cole's goal three minutes later, his shot more on target than Bryne's previously, but The Bees' keeper had it covered and easily took the ball into his hands from Sordell's effort.

Memories of the Carling Cup encounter last year at Underhill came into mind as Barnet proved a different nut to crack, their determination and commitment on the ball making it difficult for Watford to play their passing game.

Malky rang the changes just after the hour mark, brining first year pro Mingoia off, the youngster having had a good run out with several chance on the ball. He was replaced by Michael Bryan, who made the step up into the Hornets' first team this time last year.

The Watford manager also introduced French trialist striker Dembele minutes later as he tried to inject the Hornets with some much needed sting, as Sordell left the field, frustrated at not taking his chances in the game.

Ross Jenkins beats former Hornet Jordan Parkes to the ball

Doyley yet again tried his hand at goal, crossing a sweeping ball from the right across the front of Cole's goal but the ball was a little too wide for the left corner, denying the fans' favourite his second ever goal.

In Watford's third change of the evening, the manager brought on Liam Henderson who had had a fantastic season in the Hornets' second string.

Captain Eustace was taken off in place of Henderson, leaving Mariappa the duties on the field.

The inevitable happened on 77 minutes as Rickey Holmes got hold of the ball just outside of the area, thanks to a great pass from substitute Danny Hart. Holmes fired the shot into the bottom left corner of Loach's goal as the Watford 'keeper's full stretch couldn't save the effort.

A minute later and Barnet were storming towards the danger area once more, this time Hart was the man on the ball, his effort on goal leaving it all to do for Loach as the goalkeeper this time got his finger tips to the ball to deny the home side a second.

The fresh legs of hart was a definite advantage to Barnet as the quick-footed player danced down the left flank towards the goal for the second time but was just wide as Loach chased the ball across the goalmouth.

Trialist Mana Dembele

Trialist striker Dembele had a go at impressing the manager, receiving the ball on the left corner of the area and taking confident strides towards goal before firing it at Cole. But the ball lacked the power needed to net the equaliser.

It could have got even worse for Watford if it hadn't been for Bennett's quick-thinking clearance on 87 minutes as Marshall skipped past Loach, who was well-out of his area, and he fired a shot towards the target. But, the defender was in the right place at the right time to save a two goal deficit for the visitors.

After the successes of the previous pre-season matches for the Hornets, the 'Orns this evening came up against their match as The Bees once again raised their game for the visit of Watford.

WATFORD: Loach; Doyley, Mariappa, Taylor, Hodson (Bennett 77); Jenkins (McGinn 85), Eustace (Henderson 73), Cowie, Mingoia (Bryan 64); Buckley, Sordell (Dembele 69). Subs: Gilmartin, Aldred, Whichelow.

BARNET: Cole; Devera, Parkes, Uddin, Jarvis, Southam (Hughes 60), Holmes, Kelly (Hart 71), Byrne (Carpenter 60), Marshall, Prosser. Subs not used: Stimson, Cox, Yorke, Hart, Kamdjo.

GOALS: WATFORD; none. BARNET; Holmes (77).

ATT: 898