A MIDDLEWEIGHT Hornets team went down by two goals to one on a drizzly evening in St Albans, but could have no complaints at the standard of strikes that saw them off.

A wonder goal from City full-back Hassan Sulaiman in the 33rd minute of a competitive affair set the tone as these near neighbours continued their pre-season preparations in front of a reasonable Clarence Park crowd.

And it was certainly proving a night for St Albans' defenders as they doubled their lead courtesy of centre-back Chris Seeby's last-gasp goal at the end of the first period.

The Hornets replied soon after the interval through Kieron Forbes but it was to prove too little too late despite a much improved showing from David Dodds' side.

Watford started the game with a mid-strength side which featured first-XI contenders Al Bangura and Stave Kabba, along with the likes of Johan Cavalli and Toumani Diagouraga.

Not to be outdone by Watford's first teamers City were able to field their own star however, in the shape of left back Junior Harvey - more infamous for his exploits as a member of the 'So Solid Crew' and as a celebrity player in 'The Match'.

The action in the opening minute was frenetic with James Baker for the home side testing the tackling ability of Dale Bennett, before Kabba came close to connecting with an Alex Campana cross at the opposite end of the field.

Soon after St Albans' Matt Hann sent a floated diagonal free-kick into the Watford area, and he saw that nodded down by Reiss Noel whose header had the Hornets 'keeper Jonathan North leaping high into the air to claim.

After 10 minutes Watford were back in the act of attacking when Campana's corner was sent short to Bangura, who checked back before shooting low and wide of Nick Eyre.

Kabba drew a smart save from Eyre midway through the match but the Hornets front men were often starved of the ball during a fairly tepid first half showing.

Neither 'keeper had been unduly troubled in the opening spell, so it was some surprise when North was beaten by what, in the season proper, would be a goal of the season contender.

Having cleared their lines from the latest St Albans attack the Hornets began pressing upfield when, much to everyone's surprise, City right back Sulaiman unleashed a ferocious half-volley that rocketed past North into the top left-hand corner of the net.

With eight minutes left to the break Watford had loud penalty claims waved away by the officials as Seeby endured an innocent moment of ball to hand inside his own area.

Having survived that scare Seeby came back to haunt the Hornets just a few moments later. Defending deep Watford's North punched clear the latest St Albans attack, but only as far as Seeby who lay in wait eight yards out.

Coming on to the ball the centre-back smashed his shot hard into the ground before watching it cannon up and into the roof of the net to double the home side's lead.

A comedy of errors saw Watford unable to equalise when presented with a number of easy chances deep into first half injury time.

Cavalli's late free-kick cannoned back off the crossbar and with Diagouraga unable to connect with the ball in mid-air it seemed certain that Bangura would follow up just yards from the net.

Inexplicably he also managed an air shot with the goal gaping, before Junior Osbourne made it a hat-trick of missed opportunities, and with that City were let off the hook with their two goal lead intact.

With the words of Dodds ringing in their ears Watford started brightly in the second period and pulled a goal back in the 52nd minute through a well worked training ground routine.

Having been fouled on the right edge of the area Campana was quickly on his feet to take Watford's free-kick, which he pulled back to the waiting Forbes who struck a right-footed shot that flew past Eyre in some style.

A Kabba solo effort was dispatched into the arms of Eyre some moments later as the former Sheffield United striker showed a glimpse of his undoubted capabilities, with his Watford side now exerting their control on the game.

With 15 minutes to go North pulled off an impressive double save, keeping substitute James Frayne at bay at his far post, but St Albans attacks were by now few and far between.

In fairness St Albans were playing their second game in as many nights and with that in mind were all the more impressive at keeping out a much fresher Watford side, who made good use of their substitutes bench.

Both Kabba and stand-in skipper Bangura completed the full 90 minutes, as did Junior Osbourne as he continued his long recovery from injury.

With the first team continuing their preparations in Germany, Dodds will now take his charges into Saturday's friendly game with Wingate and Finchley.

ST ALBANS CITY: (4-5-1) Eyre; Sulaiman, Noel, Seeby, Harvey (Haslam 85); Hann, Bruce (c), Beard (Frayne 61), Marwa (Semakula 61), Burrell (Bubb 61); Baker (Mackie 61). Subs not used: Waite, Lamonaca.

WATFORD: (4-4-2) North; Osbourne, Brown, Bennett, Morgan (Jenkins 45); Campana (Gibson 71), Diagouraga (Young 71), Bangura (c), Cavalli (Forbes 45); L Henderson (Clarke 45), Kabba. Subs not used: Sawdell, Kiernan, Oshodi.

BOOKINGS: ST ALBANS; none. WATFORD; none

GOALS: ST ALBANS; Sulaiman (33), Seeby (45). WATFORD; Forbes (52).

REFEREE: Mr Mark Hayes