CHRIS Eagles' goal with the last kick of the game displayed for all to see why the highly-rated midfielder is so well-thought of by the Manchester United hierarchy - a mazy dribble past the static Gillingham defence before nonchalantly rolling the ball past the helpless Jason Brown in front of the Rookery.

The goal was perhaps harsh on Gillingham who fought back manfully in the second half and fashioned plenty of chances to level the scores. However with the Gills playing so far up the pitch the time was perfect for Eagles to show his class, running at defenders and causing all sorts of havoc.

Barry Ashby had given the Hornets the lead with an own goal mid way through the first half - the centre half forced to make the interception with Heidar Helguson odds on to score at the back post from Danny Webber's low cross.

Ray Lewington opted not to start on-loan Manchester United midfielder Eagles, leaving him on the bench ready to unleash later if needs be.

The opening 15 minutes saw very little of note from either side. Watford retained the ball well and sought to take advantage of the pace of Webber up front but too often the final ball through to the striker was misplaced.

Gillingham had the best chance of the early exchanges when Darius Henderson rose at the back post 17 minutes, connecting with Nicky Southall's deep right wing cross to head on target - Paul Jones catching comfortably up next to his head.

Watford's first real chance came on 22 minutes when breaking away from a Gillingham corner. Neal Ardley found Webber wide on the left where he drove at Nyron Nosworthy before shooting into the chest of Gills keeper Jason Brown.

A minute later it was Webber's presence of mind to stylishly lift the ball over Richard Rose which set up the Hornets opener. Webber passed to Johnnie Jackson who returned the ball to the striker on the edge of the area - Webber flicked the ball over left-back Rose, turned past Ian Cox and crossed to the back post looking for Helguson. Barry Ashby saw to it that the ball did not reach the Icelandic striker with an outstretched leg but he and Brown could only watch helplessly as it rolled over the line.

On 25 minutes Paul Devlin saw a good chance saved by Brown from 12 yards - Jackson found the winger in space and he pulled the ball out of his feet to shoot at Brown but the keeper claimed comfortably.

With 35 minutes gone Jackson saw the opportunity to strike the ball first-time from Gavin Mahon's pass which whistled just wide of Brown's post with the keeper grounded.

Ardley then got in on the action with a blistering right-footed drive from inside the area which stung the palms of Brown before recovering to claim at the second attempt.

Gillingham threatened briefly at the Rookery End with Henderson latching onto a half-cleared ball and swivelling to volley left-footed, however Jackson showed his all-around game by throwing himself across the box to block the shot with his leg.

Henderson again was the danger man at the end of the first half, holding off the challenges of two Watford defenders and placing a shot to the far post which Jones did well to get down to and save.

It was a hat-trick of good chances for the ex-Reading striker in the second minute of injury time, Henderson getting up to connect with Southall's corner and heading straight at Jones from six yards.

Watford nearly had the second right at the start of the second half - Jackson again at the centre of things for the Hornets. The midfielder crossed right-footed from close to the touchline across the face of goal where Helguson and Webber just failed to connect. Ardley lined up a drive at the back post which flew through a crowd of bodies and was well saved by Brown, low to his left.

The Gills came out with a more direct approach in the first half and started to cause problems for the home side, Henderson playing further up front with Byfield.

The crossbar came to the Hornets rescue on 52 minutes - Paul Smith unleashed a searing right-footed drive from the edge of the penalty area which left Jones rooted to the spot, but the effort smashed off the frame of the goal and away.

Neil Cox got himself booked for a lunging tackle on Darren Byfield three minutes later, partially blotting the copybook of a quietly effective display thus far.

Jay DeMerit nearly bagged his second league goal for the Hornets when he volleyed right Ardley's corner right into the torso of Brown on 58 minutes - either side of the keeper would surely have seen the second goal for both player and team.

Luck smiled on the home side again on 62 minutes when Henderson's flick-header struck the crossbar and fell right at the feet of Cox from six yards out. With a clear sight of goal the Gills centre-half could only prod the ball wide with DeMerit getting across to challenge.

The 72nd minute presented Henderson with yet another chance to level the score - stabbing the ball over the bar from close range after a Gills corner.

Not a minute later and Ian Cox almost gave the visitors the equaliser their second half display merited when Mahon stepped over the ball to leave it for Jones - the Gills centre-back reacted well and got a toe to the ball but could only force it over the bar from six yards.

Byfield spurned possibly the best chance of the game when presented with a free header after Flynn's long throw was flicked onto him by a Watford defender. The striker couldn't react quick enough and only got the slightest of touches to the ball.

Shortly after that Mahon set Helguson clear - the striker wasn't favourite to win the ball but managed to stab it goalward and Brown did well to stand up and deflect it out for a corner.

Jackson then fired a long-range effort just over the top corner after finding space in midfield on 77 minutes.

Jones kept the Hornets ahead with six minutes left when Flynn's raking cross-field ball picked out Byfield wide on the right flank. The striker got past Jermaine Darlington and shot for the far corner but Jones showed great reactions to get a palm to the ball.

Eagles almost fashioned the second goal after his 78th minute introduction. Receiving the ball in a three-on-three break with Helguson and Bruce Dyer, the midfielder drove straight at Ian Cox and laid off to Dyer who placed a low shot just wide of the far post.

And on 90 minutes, the ex-WatfordAcademy product showed just why he's rated as the next big thing at Manchester United. With the ball at his feet he jinked and shimmied past the Gills central defenders before calmly slotting the ball left-footed past Brown - a goal of pure class and superb composure from the 19-year old and a fine way to finish off the match.

Watford: Jones; Darlington, DeMerit, Cox, Doyley; Ardley, Jackson, Mahon (c), Devlin (Eagles 78), Webber (Dyer 86), Helguson. Subs not used: Chamberlain, McNamee, Bouazza.

Gillingham: Brown, Nosworthy, Smith (c), Ashby, Cox, Southall, Henderson, Flynn, Rose (Roberts 83), Crofts, Byfield. Subs not used: Bossu, Hills, Pouton, Beckwith.

Attendance: 15188 (1312 away)

Referee: A Hall (W Midlands)