Watford blew their chance of making ground on their promotion rivals when they threw away a two-goal lead in the first half against Portsmouth.

But credit must go to Steve Claridge's side for their fight-back. Two goals down after 16 minutes, they hit Watford with two goals in six just before the interval and threatened to take control early in the second half.

Watford's defence was all at sea for much of the afternoon and fortunate not to give away a goal early on, but Lee Bradbury steered the ball wide when presented with a chance by Lee Sharpe.

Watford took the lead after 12 minutes when Paolo Vernazza gained a rebound off the referee to go through and set up Heidar Helguson for a shot. Aaron Flahavan blocked the effort, but Tommy Smith came in to steer the ball home.

After 16 minutes a long throw by Allan Nielsen was nodded on by Darren Ward and Smith pounced to score at the near post.

Watford look likely to run amok, but Portsmouth survived and Sharpe saw his header tipped onto the bar by Watford keeper Alec Chamberlain.

After 38 minutes Chamberlain slipped as he attempted to cut out a cross from Sharpe and Nigel Quashie headed home. A minute before half-time a defensive header fell into the path of player/boss Claridge and he scored the equaliser.

Portsmouth piled on the pressure after the break but without creating a real chance. Watford had two gilt-edged opportunities of taking all three points.

Peter Kennedy fired wide after good work by Nielsen and Smith and then when the latter conjured a cross from the right, Helguson came in and headed down with such force the ball bounced back up over the bar.

Teams:

Watford: Chamberlain, Panayi (Hyde 45), Page, Ward, Robinson, Palmer, Nielsen, Vernazza, Smith, Helguson, Kennedy.

Subs Not Used: Smart, Wooter, Baardsen, Armstrong.

Goals: Smith 13, 17.

Portsmouth: Flahavan, Crowe, Hiley, Waterman, Panopoulos, Thogersen, Derry, Quashie, Sharpe, Bradbury, Claridge.

Subs Not Used: Rudonja, Nightingale, Mills, Tardiff, Miglioranzi.

Booked: Crowe.

Goals: Quashie 39, Claridge 45.

Att: 16,051

Ref: B Knight (Orpington).