A FAST-PACED, frenetic afternoon in Yorkshire ended in disappointment for the table-topping Hornets as numerous second half refereeing blunders cost Aidy Boothroyd's chance the opportunity to go further ahead of second-placed West Brom.
The ever so reliable Richard Lee was the unfortunate victim of mounting Barnsley pressure and a controversial decision by official Mike Pike, as he lost control of the ball and conceded an uncharacteristic own goal at Oakwell - replays later showing that he was clearly fouled in the process of conceding the goal.
Then, Pike missed two of the most blatant penalties you will see this season, all confirmed moments after the final whistle when Watford's analysis team produced clear evidence that the referee had failed in his job. Unfortunately, unlike Aidy's team the officials will probably remain unaccountable for their actions.
Earlier Barnsley has streaked two goals clear of the visitors with goals from Brian Howard and Martin Devaney, before Dan Shittu restored parity with a brace of headed goals ahead of the break.
Aidy sprang two surprises in his squad selection, giving Steve Kabba his first start for almost three months, whilst reinstating Damien Francis to full duties following his long-term injury lay-off after last season's cruciate injury robbed him of any kind of action throughout the majority of 2007.
New signing Lionel Ainsworth was also thrown straight into the squad, talking his place on the bench, after his surprise midweek move from Hereford United.
Barnsley started brightly on a ground at which they have lost just once this season, on the opening day to Coventry. The start saw Dominik Werling whip a left wing cross onto the head of the prolific Brian Howard, whose glancing header sliced only narrowly wide of Richard Lee's net.
Watford responded with three successive corners, the third of which was clipped to left-back Jordan Stewart, who volleyed high over into the kop behind the Tykes' goalkeeper Heinz Muller.
The visitors kept the pressure on though and with yet another flag kick to add to their burgeoning list of statistics, Stewart was able to keep his next drive down, before seeing it blocked in the area.
Ten minutes in and the Hornets' incessant pressure was paying dividends. First off Darius Henderson played in Kabba, who was himself unable to turn and shoot, but when Mahon did from the rebound Watford found themselves with another corner.
This time Mahon headed goal-bound and was all set to test Heinz Muller's reflexes before Kabba strangely diverted the ball to safety.
By this time the rain was driving hard into an already freezing Oakwell, making conditions less than suitable. It was beginning to appear that the first goal would be crucial.
Barnsley relieved the pressure with their first corner of the afternoon on the stroke of 20 minutes, but loan signing Anderson De Silva was wasteful with his low near post centre.
Referee Pike reached for his notebook in the 26th minute, booking Reds' captain Howard for a challenge from behind on Lee Williamson, this after an unsightly melee in the centre circle. Unsurprisingly, this angered the home contingent
Watford were still controlling the fixture though and another incisive move saw Williamson latch on to a Marlon King back-heel, and then feed Henderson, who hooked his shot over the crossbar.
King was played through soon after but couldn't quite show a clean pair of heels to the chasing Tykes' pack, who were able to save the day with a strong tackle of the forward.
Completely against the run of play Barnsley took the lead though, and it was little surprise that it was that man Howard, collecting his eighth goal of the campaign.
With Watford unable to clear a Barnsley corner, the ball was neatly chested into the path of Howard, who clipped a low half-volley beyond Lee and into the left-hand side of a gaping goal.
This hit the Hornets hard and despite Williamson forcing Muller into a save in between, they were soon to concede a second to a strike from a former Hornet.
Jamal Campbell-Ryce sent a sumptuous cross from right to left and with Devaney timing his run to perfection he was able to smash his shot low and hard under a perplexed Lee.
This game was alive with action and far from being knocked-out cold by the second, Watford picked themselves from the canvas to reinvigorate their performance.
With Campbell-Ryce booked for a foul on Kabba to the left of the area, Williamson planted an accurate far-post cross, where the giant-sized Shittu would make his presence felt, smashing the ball with his head back beyond Muller and into the back of the net.
That strike had made for three goals in a manic five minute spell which just about sapped all the energy left in the first half. But not all of it.
With the clock ticking over the 45-minute mark another full scale Watford attack saw the impressive Tommy Smith find space on the right whilst closely marked, before delivering another of his trademark crosses.
Yet again it arrowed its way to the marauding Shittu who, bundling team mate Henderson out of the way, powered forward with his head to once again ripple the Barnsley net for a richly deserved equaliser.
Boothroyd sent his side out unusually early before the restart to take part in a short sided passing drill. They then kicked off towards the home fans and almost immediately Smith earned his side a corner when his low cross was deflected behind by Lewin Nyatanga.
It was another high energy start that saw the Reds' defence beset with panic, fending off efforts from Kabba and Stewart.
But perhaps the clearest chance of the game was wasted some seconds later when Devaney picked up a loose ball some ten yards out. Completely unmarked, Devaney couldn't replicate his first half effort and blazed his shot off the top of his boot and into the empty rows of seats.
Williamson and Smith were next to try their luck for Boothroyd's side but both shots lacked conviction as Muller clung on comfortably to each effort.
Chants of 'save Bangura' rang out in the away end as the travelling 'Orns broke from the frenetic action to pay tribute to the young midfielder, who is threatened with deportation from the United Kingdom.
On the field it was still end-to-end and Watford had a lot to thank their 'keeper Lee for, as he pulled off an exceptional save to keep the scoreline level.
Breaking into space on the left, Werling centered for former Manchester City striker Jon Macken, who looked certain to score with a downward header, before Lee leapt to his left to claw the ball off his line.
Going in search of the winner, Watford were a little stretched at the back and were let off the hook yet again when Istvan Ferenczi endured a disastrous moment in front of the visiting support.
Having had the ball squared to him by Werling, the goal was gaping at his mercy, yet astonishingly from inside the area he spooned his shot way over the crossbar.
But for those who thought Barnsley's chances had all but disappeared with Ferenczi's miss, they were soon in for a shock.
A deep cross was sent into Lee's area and as he jumped under pressure from Nyatanga he appeared to lose grasp of the slippery ball, which crept from his hands and agonisingly behind him over the line.
Defensively the Hornets were struggling to cope with Barnsley's attack and Boothroyd will have been concerned at the lack of composure as the seconds ticked away.
Francis was introduced to the action some moments later, in place of skipper Mahon, as the manager looked for fresh impetus in the centre. Soon after too, Ainsworth was offered a debut, in place of defender Aidy Mariappa.
Referee Mike Pike, who had already had an awful afternoon on the field, then failed to spot two ever so clear penalty claims, as twice King was strong armed by the Tykes defenders.
The Hornets were apoplectic with rage, yet Pike was unapologetic for his mistakes. In the ensuing minutes Watford threw absolutely everything at Simon Davey's side, but despite this it was his Barnsley side who were to hold on to their slender lead.
Barnsley shouldn't be robbed of their win, but Pike will look back with nothing but embarrassment when he sees how dreadful his decisions were.
Watford may have lost but they remain six points clear at the top of the table, ahead of West Brom's local derby with Wolves tomorrow (Sunday).
BARNSLEY (4-4-2): Muller; Foster, Souza, Nyatanga, Werling; Campbell-Ryce (McCann 87), De Silva, Howard, Devaney; Ferenczi, Macken. Subs not used: Reid, Christensen, Togwell, Odejayi.
WATFORD (4-4-2): Lee; Doyley, Mariappa (Ainsworth 80), Shittu, Stewart; Smith, Mahon (c) (Francis 70), Williamson, Kabba; King, Henderson. Subs not used: Ellington, Priskin, Jackson.
BOOKINGS: BARNSLEY; Howard (unsporting behaviour, 26), Campbell-Ryce (unsporting behaviour, 36). WATFORD; Henderson (unsporting behaviour, 83), Stewart (ungentlemanly conduct, 90).
SENDINGS-OFF: BARNSLEY; none. WATFORD; none.
GOALS: BARNSLEY; Howard (32), Devaney (34), Lee o.g. (65). WATFORD; Shittu (37, 45).
ATTENDANCE: 10,117 (1,092 Watford supporters).
REFEREE: Mr M Pike.
