Watford racked up a second successive Nationwide League victory as they
stepped up the tempo in their fight for Division One survival against Walsall at
the Bescot Stadium.
Lee Cook was the first-half matchwinner when he seized on a mistake by Vinny
Samways to slot home his fourth goal of the season.
The victory moves the Hornets level on points with the Saddlers, who are still
without a win in 2004, and were denied at least a point by a string of saves
from Watford keeper Lenny Pidgeley.
Watford were by far the stronger in the first half, with Neal Ardley prominent
throughout.
It was from the former Wimbledon midfielder's outswinging corner which
presented Neil Cox with the first chance of the match - only for the defender to
direct his header over the bar.
Ardley was in the thick of things again minutes later as he picked out Gavin
Mahon on the left, from where he smacked a terrific effort against the
crossbar.
When the visitors got the goal their pressure deserved after 15 minutes the
only surprise was that Ardley was not involved.
Instead it arrived from a Walsall mistake as Samways was caught in possession
on the edge of his own area, and Cook - preferred to Bruce Dyer to partner
leading scorer Scott Fitzgerald and Paul Devlin in attack - rifled in a shot
which took a deflection on its way past James Walker into the net.
The goal stirred Walsall into life - and as Neil Emblen and Simon Osborn
started to win the tackles in midfield, the Saddlers began to create chances.
Pidgeley was forced to tip over a curling free-kick from Osborn after Sean
Dyche had brought down Gary Birch.
Then Jorge Leitao forced a fantastic save from the Watford stopper, after
Darren Bazeley's centre had found him on the edge of the box.
Kris Taylor replaced the unfortunate Samways at the break and was soon booked
for a crunching tackle on Devlin.
Taylor's enthusiasm initially failed to inspire his team-mates as Watford
remained on top with Cook going close to his second when he steered an effort
narrowly past Walker's left-hand post.
But Walsall finished the contest strongly and Pidgeley superbly tipped an
25-yard volley from Emblen round the post before he flung himself to keep out a
powerful effort from Leitao.
Substitute Pedro Matias had Walsall's final chance to grab an equaliser but
volleyed over the bar when well placed as Watford ultimately emerged relieved to
take home the three points.
Teams:
Walsall: Walker, Bazeley, Carbon, Ritchie, Aranalde,
Osborn (Wright 72), Emblen, Samways (Kris Taylor 45), Leitao,
Birch (Matias 68), Wales.
Subs Not Used: Petterson, Corica.
Booked: Kris Taylor.
Watford: Pidgeley, Cox, Dyche, Ifil, Smith, Hyde, Mahon,
Ardley, Fitzgerald (Vernazza 86), Cook, Devlin.
Subs Not Used: Chamberlain, Dyer, Hand, Doyley.
Booked: Devlin.
Goals: Cook 15.
Att: 6,684
Ref: M Atkinson (W Yorkshire).
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