THE 'Orns had another beneficial run-out in the heat today (Saturday) as Northampton Town pressed Malky Mackay's men all game but Watford showed great character to come back and draw the match 3-3.
Ian Sampson's men started strongly and built up their lead in the first half through a double strike from Michael Jacobs and a goal from Tadhg Purcell.
In the middle of those goals, fit-again Danny Graham grabbed a neat strike for Watford after some encouraging attacking from Michael Bryan.
The game appeared to be fading out towards the last quarter but Graham netted again as the Golden Boys fought back.
Then it came to life as sub Marvin Sordell evened the score with nine minutes remaining from close range, as Malky's men showed character to come back and it also indicated that the pre-season fitness work is paying dividends already.
The Hornets travelled to Northampton for their fourth pre-season friendly of the summer.
The Golden Boys welcomed back Graham after missing the midweek clash with Barnet due to a nose injury.
He partnered Will Buckley in attack and Bryan came into midfield, starting wide on the right.
Dale Bennett occupied the right back position with Lloyd Doyley starting at left back.
Defender Tom Aldred missed the game due to a minor toe injury.
Northampton were hosting their second home friendly after entertaining Coventry City already this summer, while they can also expect Birmingham City before the campaign starts in August.
They included former Sky Blues defender Marcus Hall, who was released from the Ricoh Arena at the end of last season.
Northampton were impressive early on as the 'Orns took their time to settle.
Watford's best attacking move early on saw Bennett get forward down the right flank and deliver an excellent ball into the penalty area between two defenders, but Graham was unable to get to the ball in time.
Scott Loach was busy dealing with corners and free kicks into the penalty area as he was put under pressure by the hosts.
After 12 minutes Town opened the scoring in front of the travelling Watford supporters.
Hall played a deep ball from the left towards the far post as the Golden Boys found themselves outnumbered at the far post.
Northampton had two players there and midfielder Keith Thornton played a simple pass into Jacobs and he smashed the ball past Loach from inside the penalty area.
The Hornets reacted and Don Cowie's speculative effort at the back post went up and over the bar after another delivery from the right flank.
Seven minutes after their first goal, Northampton doubled their lead.
Jacobs headed home at the far post after a good cross from Purcell on the right wing.
The cross swung to the far post and the 'Orns let themselves down as they let another goal in.
That strike sparked an improvement from the visitors as Bryan started to see more of the ball.
The wide man drifted in from the right on 26 minutes and slipped a perfectly weighted pass in between two defenders to find Graham in the box, and the former Carlisle man had no hesitation in finishing past Paul Walker.
Four minutes later Bennett crossed from the right and found Buckley, he chested the ball down calmly but was unable to test Walker in the Town net.
Watford were starting to make the best use of the flanks, just as the home side had been doing so successfully.
Doyley charged forward in the 34 minute and his sharp near post delivery was unbelievably close to reaching the head of Graham.
From the resulting kick, Cowie's corner was aimed towards the big physical figure of Martin Taylor but he was unable to get to the ball under pressure.
Northampton forward Billy McKay tried his luck from distance with a little less than 10 minutes remaining and he forced a corner as Loach scampered across his line.
Two minutes later Seb Harris smashed a drive over the bar and then on 40 minutes the Cobblers extended their lead again.
Purcell got the goal from close ranger after Loach had saved the original effort following a superb delivery from danger man Jacobs on the left flank.
A minute before the interval, Buckley produced a first-class cross but Scotsman Cowie couldn't get on the end of it at the far post.
Stephen McGinn was introduced at the start of the second half in place of Ross Jenkins.
Loach made an outstanding save six minutes after the restart as he made a fingertip save to deny McKay's header, after he wriggled free from Taylor in the box.
The England Under-21 stopper saved low down moments later to stop Keith Thornton as Taylor couldn't avert the danger in the box.
Marvin Sordell stepped off the bench to replace Buckley after 10 minutes of the second half.
Piero Mingoia was also offered another opportunity to impress as he came on to take the place of Bryan just after the hour mark.
Following that change, captain John Eustace's towering header was well gathered by Walker after a good corner from Cowie.
At the other end, sub Courtney Herbert's fierce effort at goal flew just past Loach's post.
Graham added a second with 13 minutes remaining as he took a quick free kick and caught The Cobblers off guard.
Sub Sordell had been brought down after an excellent run and the striker made no mistake to surprise the hosts.
Northampton's Thornton cracked the post in an identical quick free kick to Graham's as the game really started to open up.
Sordell netted from close range to level the scores as the goals came thick and fast in a bizarre end to the game.
Five minutes from time Doyley saw a shooting chance opening up after Sordell's strong run had been thwarted, but the full back didn't test Walker as he blasted over the bar and into the Watford fans behind the goal.
Just before the final whistle the unlikely figure of Doyley was again charging to the area but he didn't properly connect with his shot as he dragged his effort wide.
NORTHAMPTON TOWN: Walker; Rodgers (Johnson 62), Beckwith, Harris, Hall; Thornton, Gilligan (c), Wedderburn, Jacobs; Purcell (Guinan 66), McKay (Herbert 63). Subs not used: Kaziboni, Gherasim, Slowe, Farquharson, Konstantinou, Death.
WATFORD: Loach; Bennett (Hodson 37), Taylor, Mariappa, Doyley; Bryan (Mingoia 63), Jenkins (McGinn h/time), Eustace (c), Cowie; Buckley (Sordell 55), Graham. Subs not used: Gilmartin, Kiernan, Henderson.
GOALS: NORTHAMPTON TOWN; Jacobs (12, 19), Purcell (40). WATFORD; Graham (26, 77), Sordell (81).
BOOKINGS: NORTHAMPTON TOWN; none. WATFORD; none.
ATTENDANCE: 1,722 (525 Hornets).
REFEREE: Mr P Walton.
