Watford continue to let manager Graham Taylor's retirement party go with a bang.

Taylor will see his successor appointed at a press conference at Vicarage Road tomorrow - with former Chelsea manager Gianluca Vialli strongly tipped to take over.

Taylor watched his maturing young side outclass Gillingham with a three- goal burst inside the first 15 minutes of the second half, with Paolo Vernazza's third goal the best of the night.

Watford striker Heidar Helguson went close twice in an even first half but made no mistake six minutes after the break when he put Watford ahead. He beat the Gillingham offside trap and after having his first shot blocked by goalkeeper Vince Bartram then calmly flicked the rebound into an empty net.

Tommy Smith added the second two minutes later outpacing Gillingham youngster Richard Rose making his first league start and clipped a left foot shot into the far corner.

Youngster Lee Cook, making his first start for Watford was then inches away from adding a third before Vernazza calmly struck a 25 yard effort into the top corner to complete Watford's great start to the second half.

Gillingham top scorer Marlon King missed two good chances to add to his tally of 14 for the season a minute before Vernazza made it 3-0 he missed a great chance at the other end, failing to convert skipper Paul Smith's chip into the box, with King unmarked and only Watford keeper Alec Chamberlain to beat.

Then he headed wide from just three yards as Gillingham failed to spark in front of goal.

Taylor received a cut glass decanter from Gillingham before the game with chairman Paul Scally and player-manager Andy Hessentahler, himself a former Watford man making the presentation.

Teams

Gillingham: Bartram, Hope, Pennock, Ashby, Smith, Southall, Browning (Ipoua 57), Saunders (Lovell 85), Rose, King (Crofts 74), Onuora.

Subs Not Used: Phillips, Browne.

Booked: Ashby.

Watford: Chamberlain, Cox, Robinson, Cook (Perpetuini 82), Ward, Helguson, Vernazza, Panayi, Nielsen (Johnson 45), Smith (Easton 81), Hyde.

Subs Not Used: Palmer, Day.

Goals: Helguson 51, Smith 54, Vernazza 66.

Att: 9,098

Ref: P Danson (Leicester).