Watford's Class Beats County

At the end of the day, you could say that Watford had too much class.

Our seven minutes in the lead was perhaps all we were destined for, but despite County holding their own for large parts of the game, the game will infact be remembered for a James Spencer blunder.

The coach left Woodley at 9:30, and after a half hour stop at Watford gap services we got into Watford at about 1:45ish. We were refused entry to the first three pubs, before going back and then being allowed in the second pub which was packed full of County fans.

Walking to the ground at about half 2ish, there was County fans everywhere. You could here the County fans singing, and this was a good half hour before kick off.

After being directed to our seats, which were quite unusually ordered, we noticed that the whole squad was actually warming up. Ashley Williams and Anthony Pilkington were with the team, Michael Raynes and Adam Le Fondre were also both warming up and took places on the bench.

County went 4-4-2, with Michael Malcolm and Liam Dickinson upfront. David Poole was on the right, and Stephen Gleeson on the left. Adam Griffin went to left back, whilst Rob Clare went to right back, which meant James Tunnicliffe played central defence.

With Laurel and Hardy doing the PA, they confused the County fans by saying that the '2 minute bell' had being rung. County fans thought the teams were coming out, and all ticker tape flew up and roars of 'come on' made us look a bit stupid when no players actually appeared. It made it even louder though, when two minutes later Tony Dinning led the team onto the pitch to the flags, balloons, ticker tape and one of the loudest roars of the season.

County had the first proper chance of the game, Stephen Gleeson hammered a free kick towards the bottom corner and Ben Foster spilled the ball but collected on the second attempt before Michael Malcolm could sneak in.

The defence was looking a bit shaky from corners and throw ins, and Watford had a tactic to put a man on James Spencer every time. They thought it had worked when Darius Henderson scored, and the Watford fans started to cheer until they saw the linesman`s flag up on the nearside for offside.

It was all Watford at the minute, and the Watford fans were brought to their feet again minutes later when Ashley McNamee curled the ball into the net, only for the referee to rule it out for an earlier foul on Jason Taylor. Twice in five minutes the Watford fans looked a bit stupid.

For a Premiership team, the support was awful. You couldn't hear the Watford fans, and it was County songs that rung around Vicarage Road all afternoon.

And it was that support that brought County an early goal, totally against the run of play after twenty minutes. Jason Taylor was fouled on the edge of the area, but the ball fell to Tony Dinning and the referee waved advantage on. Tony Dinning played a perfect through ball to David Poole, who coolly slotted the ball under Ben Foster to send the travelling 3500 County fans absolutely mental.

Despite the goal, Watford continued to put the pressure on County, and were looking for an equaliser. Gareth Owen blocked off the line, and then Jason Taylor put a pinpoint tackle in to stop Watford players getting shots away.

Adrian Mariappa was then booked for diving. I'm not going to start calling him, but what a cheat. Tony Dinning won the ball, and Mariappa just decided to take a tumble. The referee was totally correct to book him.

Watford got a fluky equaliser, when a corner sailed right across the face of goal, and Malky Mackay was at the back post and touched the ball in with his outstretched leg.

County should have had a penalty minutes later though, when Liam Dickinson was brought down in the box. Instead the referee gave County a corner, probably showing that he thought the Watford defender had won the ball.

From the resulting corner, Adam Griffin nearly scored direct as Ben Foster looked dodgy and punched it over the bar.

James Spencer then pulled off a good save, as Jordan Stewart hit a stinging shot towards the top corner, but Spencer punched it wide.

So, County reached half time. 1-1. We could come out and get something. Tes Bramble was coming on for the very poor Michael Malcolm.

And Bramble's influence almost got County a goal straight away. From a long clearance, Bramble won the header against DeMerit and the ball fell to Dickinson who played Poole through but Poole just over controlled the ball and couldn't quite get away his shot.

However, Watford took the lead when Tommy Smith turned in the box and nutmegged James Spencer. James Tunnicliffe could have cleared it off the line, but wasn't balanced properly and kind of fell over.

From here on it it was always going to be tough, especially chasing the game against Watford who had pace upfront.

However, County turned the tide as they looked for an equaliser and backed by the wonderful support who were still out singing Watford it looked possible.

Jason Taylor went close with a shot that flew wide of the post.

David Poole then broke away down the right-hand side, and put a fantastic cross in for Stephen Gleeson who met the ball beautifully but just headed over the bar.

Liam Dickinson was then played through after Bramble won the flick on, but Dickinson didn't have enough pace and DeMerit easily dealt with it.

County should have had a penalty, when Tes Bramble drove the ball towards goal but a Watford defender blocked it with his hand. County appealed for hand ball, but the referee gave nothing. The ball came back to Bramble who hit the ball across the face of goal, and all it needed was for someone to take a chance of going to the backpost - but there was only Gleeson there who it missed.

The spell of pressure ended, when Tes Bramble should have won County a corner. The ball clearly came off the Watford defender, and Bramble let the ball go out for the corner because nobody else was up (Dickinson was receiving treatment). However the linesman flagged for a goal kick to Bramble's and the County fan's disbelief.

Watford stamped their class on the game though when Adam Griffin gave away a needless free kick. Jordan Stewart put a beautiful ball in, the County offside trap failed, and James Spencer was in no-mans land as Malky Mackay had his easy second goal.

And finally, James Spencer showed why he must be sold, when his blunder will get him known by the country on all the blunders dvds. Adam Griffin played the ball back to Spencer, who missed the ball completely. Ashikodi was there to put the ball into the open net.

Four goals does sound like a thrashing, but the County fans were still out singing the Watford fans - proud of the efforts of their team. A few players let the team down, and if the goalkeeper situation could be sorted out and we could get a goalkeeper who doesn't make as many mistakes as Spencer we will be totally fine.

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