A CLEAN sheet was the most Aidy Boothroyd's Watford could take away from their latest pre-season run-out, in front of a bumper Hornets' following.

Over 2,000 supporters made the journey north of Hertfordshire, but they weren't to be rewarded as the Golden Boys were unable to convert their string of half-chances into anything more.

Solid at the back the likes of Mart Poom, Matt Jackson and Clarke Carlisle looked mostly unruffled by the Dons' strike threat, but up top the Hornets weren't able to click into top gear as they continued their preparations for life in the Championship.

Tommy Smith missed out with a slight hamstring problem but that aside, Boothroyd had a near full-strength side to pick from.

In the Dons' resplendent new stadium it was Watford who would make the first impression, coming within millimetres of opening the scoring.

A strong Tamas Priskin run down the right released the lightening quick Jobi McAnuff, and when his cross found Gavin Mahon on the edge of the area it looked odds-on for the Hornets to go a goal up.

Agonisingly Mahon's effort deflected off a white shirted Dons' defender and back off the upright - a close shave for the home side.

Closer still they survived a further scare in the 12^th minute when Marlon King was played clean through by an amazing 60-yard cross field pass from Jordan Stewart inside his own half.

With King easily outpacing the Milton Keynes' backline he had time to bring the ball under control before firing off his shot which was well saved by David Lucas who, in truth, should have had little or no chance.

Just shy of the half hour mark Carlisle was forced to concede a corner, heading clear from under his own crossbar after Mark Wright centred from the right flank. But that aside the Hornets defence were barely troubled in the first period, which ended goalless.

The second half again saw the visitors from Vicarage Road causing problems with their pace wide play, but the breakthrough just wasn't forthcoming.

Ten minutes into the second half the troublesome Lloyd Dyer whipped over a teasing cross from the left, which the much coveted Izale McLeod should have done better with, the ball evading him in mid air as it flashed across the goal.

A steady stream of Dons' changes did little to influence the stalemate, with both sides holding the opposing attackers at arms length.

As the game grew the Hornets began to exert pressure on the hosts and this almost culminated in a goal 20 minutes into the second half.

Priskin danced around several Dons defenders before drilling a wicked low across just yards out of the goal, which went untouched before running out to the far corner. However, unnoticed went the push on McAnuff as the ball was crossed, with referee Paul Taylor waving away Watford's appeals.

The Dons frustration boiled over moments later with Dean Lewington and Keith Andrews sparked a fracas after Lee Williamson disposed the Dons full back near the left corner flag.

Further glimpses of the Hornets quality shone through when Lucas tipped over a fizzing 20-yard shot from McAnuff and then Priskin tried his luck with a low drive some minutes later.

Boothroyd made his first change with just 10 minutes to the break, allowing Will Hoskins a brief run out in place of Anthony McNamee, before Darius Henderson then replaced Tamas Priskin.

The home side's best chance of the game came in the closing stages when Jon-Paul McGovern found an unmarked Kevin Gallen in side the penalty area, who despite his acrobatics, was unable to anything more than loop his shot just wide of goal.

Another McAnuff cross went unfinished as it flashed past King near the goal line and with just four minutes to go King snatched at a angled shot, pulling it just wide of Lucas' right hand post.

A further King effort had the crowd oohing and aahing, but not as much as at the other end when McGovern wasted a one-on-one opportunity at the feet of Poom deep into injury time.

And that was the last act in an entertaining yet goalless encounter between two sides who will be looking for nothing less than promotion form their respective divisions this season.

MK DONS (4-4-2): Lucas; Edds (Howell 56), O'Hanlon, Carbon (Murphy 41), Lewington (Diallo 84); Wright (Hazell 60), Andrews (c), McGovern, Dyer (Branch 88); Knight (Gallen 45), McLeod (Wilbraham 76). Subs not used: Abbey (gk), Morris.

WATFORD (4-4-2): Poom; Doyley, Carlisle, Jackson, Stewart; McNamee (Hoskins 80), Mahon (c), Williamson, McAnuff, King, Priskin (Henderson 82). Subs not used: Lee (gk), Rinaldi, Bangura, Mariappa, Avinel, Parkes.

BOOKINGS: MK Dons: none. Watford: none.

GOALS: MK Dons: none. Watford: none.

REFEREE: Mr Paul Taylor (Herts)

ATTENDANCE: 8,173

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