WHEN the knockers are on your back, the last place you want to go is to a place like Colchester. A craggy little ground where the fans can get on your back and heap even more pressure on. Anyone could cave in that situation.

Alternatively, you could give your opposition a two goal lead and still manage to come away with all three points. Who was it who said it was a marathon and not a sprint? Because this race isn't over by a long shot.

Watford found themselves 2-0 down before the half hour mark but refused to be dead and buried. The comeback staged by the Hornets saw Aidy Boothroyd's men pick up their first points since their last encounter with Colchester ironically.

Goals from Marlon King, John Joe O'Toole and Tamas Priskin made sure of all three points to ensure that those below the Hornets in the Championship keep on suffering with a stiff neck looking up at the Glory 'Orns

Watford summoned their first attack on goal just before the five minute mark. Marlon King dinked a delicate ball into the box for the lurking Dan Shittu, who clearly still has a taste for goal, and the big defender nodded down on goal.

Although his shot was on target, it needed a touch more venom in it in order to trouble Dean Gerken.

How the Hornets wished they taken that chance, for the game suddenly took a turn for the worse as the home side took the lead.

Mark Yeates' corner found its way into the box before pin-balling around, finally finding the feet of Clive Platt. The Colchester man then dug it out from beneath him to poke the U's into the lead.

Watford refused to let their heads drop however and King almost levelled proceedings when his effort from outside the box stung the hands of Gerken, who fumbled, but recovered to hold the shot.

Lloyd Doyley then delivered a telling ball across the face of goal, but the only foot that was able to get a touch was that of a Colchester man. From the ensuing corner, Shittu's header found the roof of the net.

Kevin McLeod was proving to be somewhat of a handful from distance, when yet another of his long range shots was met with a gasp from the crowd as it fizzed past Mart Poom's upright.

Play then swung straight up the other end like the proverbial tennis match and this time it was Tamas Priskin's turn to test Gerken when his 20 yard low drive had to be stopped by the 'keeper.

Yeates then brought a low save out of Poom after he had skipped past Jordan Stewart. From the corner, Colchester scored an almost copycat goal of their first to double their lead.

Once more the ball pinged around the box, arms and legs flailing, until Matt Connolly jabbed past the grounded Poom.

Stewart them crashed a trademark free kick against the cross bar before John Joe O'Toole ricocheted the ball upright rather than into the back of the net, after Jobi McAnuff had also suffered a similar misfortune. Typically, it was from similar situations that Colchester had scored both of their goals. Some days they just fall for you.

Watford were dealt yet another blow when Mart Poom limped off and made way for substitute 'keeper Richard Lee.

But the more than able replacement almost claimed an assist with his first kick of the game. Taking the goal kick that Poom was deemed unfit to take, Lee delivered straight up the park and set up King.

The front man shot straight at Gerken and the stopper had to turn it away for a corner as Watford continued to press the home side.

Just as the travelling support were praying for a goal before half time to give themselves half a chance, they did more that that with two goals in a minute to even the game up. Not bad considering we'd just lost our 'keeper.

It was Tommy Smith who played provider for both of the goals. The first, a ball over the top for King, who struck from the corner of the box with a trademark finish that gave Gerken no chance.

Less than a minute later, Doyley's hesitance to shoot saw him instead feed Smith. The winger then crossed to the far post where McAnuff and O'Toole were lurking. Clearly on form, it was O'Toole who netted his second goal in as many games, a header in front of goal that levelled the scores just before the break.

An impromptu huddle as the half time whistle blew saw Marlon King leading the team talk before both teams descended down the tunnel.

Whatever was said clearly worked, as Watford were on the attack from the off.

Jobi McAnuff raced clear down the wing, cut inside and looked certain to give the visitors the lead, but his effort flew over the bar.

The irony was that the Colchester fans and perhaps players, were under the illusion Watford merely had some unpolished substitute 'keeper in between the sticks. They were not ready for Lee to come racing out of the goal when Kevin Lisbie had the ball at his feet and rob him of possession. The 'Ooos' from the crowd were somewhat premature.

Even more so when Watford took the lead.

Smith claimed his hat-trick of assists with 64 minutes on the clock in order to completely turn the game on its head. The flight of his ball into the box found Priskin at the far post and the Hungarian leapt above his marker to head home.

That was to be his last contribution to the game before he made way for Darius Henderson.

Watford had to suffer some late scares, including five minutes of injury time which saw Colchester thrown everything at Lee.

Finally, finally, the whistle blew. Three points well won.

For the neutral it was an excellent game. For a Watford supporter, it was even better.

COLCHESTER: Gerken; Jackson, Elokobi, Connolly (Baldwin 90), Virgo; Duguid, Izzet (Guttridge 83), Yeates, McLeod (Sheringham 62); Lisbie, Platt. Subs not used: Cousins, Guy.

WATFORD: Poom (Lee 34); Stewart, Shittu, DeMerit (c), Doyley; O'Toole, McAnuff (Francis 85), Williamson, Smith; King, Priskin (Henderson 73). Subs not used: Jackson, Ainsworth.

BOOKINGS: COLCHESTER; McLeod (foul 12), Jackson (hand ball 27), Platt (dissent 68). WATFORD; O'Toole (ungentlemanly conduct 56), McAnuff (unsporting behaviour 66), Henderson (unsporting behaviour 90), Doyley (time wasting 90).

SENDINGS OFF: COLCHESTER; none. WATFORD; none.

GOALS: COLCHESTER; Platt (7), Connolly (27). WATFORD; King (40), O'Toole (41), Priskin (64).

REFEREE: T M Kettle.

ATTENDANCE: 5,760. (968 Watford supporters).