A Resilient Win Against the Mackems

Today at 04:26 PM

During the week there had been some publicity about a mural commemorating the 1999 play-off final that Murwalls were painting on an underpass close to the High Street station. When it was announced that there would be an unveiling at midday on Saturday, I arranged to meet Don there.

The mural is a thing of beauty with pictures of the key players and GT on the two sides of the underpass. It was commissioned by Hertfordshire County Council and there were dignatories from the county (who were also Watford fans) present along with Peter Taylor and Aga Dychton, the major and deputy mayor of Watford. But the stars of the show were Robert Page, Alec Chamberlain and Nicky Wright, who are all featured. Pagey said a few words about that great day, pointing out that GT was a great advocate of the football team being part of the community. It was great to hear him then say that the current Watford manager also knows the importance of community to the club. We grabbed photos with the players and thanked them for the happy memories. Pagey shook his head and said, "25 years gone in an instant." Among the crowd there was a young lad who was pointed out to me by Richard Walker asking if I recognised him. His Dad had played with these guys. Suddenly it became clear. It was H's son, who is over for a trial with Watford's Academy. I went up and shook his hand and asked if he was at mad as his Dad. "On the pitch, yes." I also related my favourite story about H which was that he tried to relax by playing golf but, if he lost, he would break his clubs. "I've seen him do that a few times." He seemed like a lovely lad, so I wished him well. It would be tremendous to see him in a Watford shirt.

We then headed to the West Herts for lunch, buzzing from our close encounters with greatness.

When we finally arrived at Vicarage Road, we found that the sound system was back working, but the scoreboard at the Vicarage Road end was malfunctioning, so the match timing was not visible, which was a right pain for my note taking.

Team news was that Cleverley had made six changes from the Norwich game including first league starts for Ogbonna and Ebosele. So, the starting line-up was Bond; Morris, Ogbonna, Pollock; Dele-Bashiru, Sissoko, Larouci, Ebosele; Kayembe, Chakvetadze; Bayo. Luke O'Nien started for the opposition. I had a chat with Sally before the game who was saying how fond she was of him having watched him in the youth team. I feel similarly. I was also aware that he was in the year above our Maddie at school and she confirmed what a great lad he was, and our Rose mentioned that the whole family were lovely, which was good to hear and cemented my fondness for the lad.

The Hornets started brightly and had an early chance when a Kayembe cross was headed on to Larouci whose shot was blocked for a corner that ended up in the side netting.  The visitors then had a dangerous break that finished with Cirkin in the box playing a low cross for Isidor who also found the side netting. The Sunderland keeper, Patterson, was then called into action to push away a great shot from Kayembe. The Hornets then launched another good move as Chakvetadze found Kayembe, he played the ball to Ebosele whose shot was blocked. Bayo was the next to test the Sunderland keeper with a shot from a tight angle that Patterson blocked. The Hornets had made a great start to the game, and I was particularly pleased to see Ebosele running at the Sunderland defence and getting a series of crosses in. I was also gratified to see that the steward in our gangway was jigging and clapping along to the Watford chants. Can we have him every week? There was danger for the Hornets when the visitors were awarded a free kick in a dangerous position, but Ebosele was on hand to make the block. At the other end, a move which started with a battling tackle by Chakvetadze finished with Larouci beating a defender to get to the byline and cross for Bayo whose header was caught by Patterson. The visitors then had a great chance to open the scoring when a dangerous cross by Hume was met by the head of Bellingham, but his effort flew wide.

Instead, it was the Hornets who took a deserved lead as Larouci crossed for Ebosele who volleyed home to send the Vicarage Road faithful into joyous celebrations. Ebosele went from hero to villain becoming the first player in the referee's book for a foul on Mundle. The visitors had a great chance to equalise from the resultant free kick as the delivery from Roberts was met with a volley by O'Nien whose effort was tipped over the bar by Bond. The visitors threatened again from a short corner, Mundle crossed for Rigg who headed wide of the target. The Hornets caused trouble for themselves as a loose pass from Larouci allowed Isidor to break forward and unleash a shot that flew just wide of the far post. The visitors threatened again, but some good work from Ebosele forced Mundle to shoot high and wide. Mundle threatened again, but this time his pull back was cleared by Ogbonna. The Hornets had a great chance to score a second just before half time after Chakvetadze played a lovely ball to release Sissoko who crossed for Bayo whose shot was blocked. There was one minute of time added on during which Kayembe broke down the right and played a ball for Bayo in the box, but the keeper was first to it. At the other end Roberts had a chance to equalise but his shot was wide of the far post. So, the Hornets went into the break with a deserved lead after a tremendous half of football. Although there were warning signs as the visitors got back into the game after the goal.

At half time, the Wembley heroes from 1999 were interviewed with Steve Plamer joining Alec Chamberlain, Nicky Wright and Robert Page. So many happy memories from that day and that team, they really were a special group.

Having held out in the first half, the Hornets made a poor start to the second. I was distracted by the people in the row in front returning from their half time refreshments, but looked up to see Roberts square the ball for Isidor to turn past Bond to restore parity. The Hornets looked to restore their lead as Chakvetadze crossed for Bayo who could only head the ball on to Larouci whose shot hit the side netting. Cleverley made a triple substitution just before the hour mark as Porteous, Sema and Ince replaced Ebosele, Larouci and Kayembe. I was disappointed to see Ebosele leave the pitch, even more so as the early involvement from Porteous was ropey to say the least. The visitors then had a chance to take the lead but Bellingham's shot from distance was met by a good save from Bond. The Hornets then conceded a free kick in a very dangerous position, but the delivery from Roberts was straight into the wall. At this point, Cleverley made another change bringing Jebbison on in place of Bayo. A move that was very well received by the Hornet faithful as Bayo had had another frustrating day in front of goal.

The visitors had another chance to take the lead when Bellingham found Mundle just outside the box, he cut in and unleashed a shot that Bond did well to keep out. Sunderland made a double substitution at this point bringing Poveda and Rusyn on in place of Roberts and Isidor. Earlier in the game, the guy next to me had pointed out that the red kite was circling, he saw this as a good omen. At this point he drew my attention to the fact that the red kite had returned. Cleverley made a final substitution as Chakvetadze made way for Baah. Sunderland were pushing for a second and Neil tried a shot from distance, but it was high and wide of the target. Having resisted the pressure from the visitors, it was the Hornets who scored the next goal. Baah went on a great run and broke into the box where he was tripped by Neil and the referee had no hesitation in pointing to the spot. Dele-Bashiru stepped up and put the spot kick into the bottom left corner. Patterson went the right way, but did not get near it. The visitors made a final substitution as Watson replaced Mundle. Baah then did brilliantly to win a corner in front of the Rookery only for the referee to award a goal kick.  There was 4 minutes of added time during which Patterson went up for a corner and it was he who met Hume's delivery, but Bond was equal to the header. The crowd were yelling for him to welly it upfield while the keeper was still in our box, but he took his time. The final chance of the game came as Ince intercepted the ball in the midfield and played a through ball to release Jebbison, but he could only win a corner that came to nothing. No matter, the Hornets finished with another win at home.

Vicarage Road was bouncing at the end. The Hornets had been excellent in the first half, while Sunderland had the better of the second half. But the Watford defence was resilient and the win, if a bit fortunate, was very welcome.  Most of the players impressed. Larouci had a much better game than he has of late. Chakvetadze, Kayembe and Sissoko were their usual reliable selves. I really enjoyed Ebosele's performance, he showed strength and pace and a willingness to run at the defence, he put in some decent crosses and his goal was excellent. Porteous suffered in comparison, having a bit of a mare at right wing back. Bayo had another frustrating afternoon, but he did get into some dangerous positions. Sadly, the same could not be said of Jebbison when he came on.

At the end of the game, I spotted a couple of lads at the front of the Rookery with the Ireland flag. Ebosele appeared to be leaving the pitch without acknowledging them, but the next time I looked, he was with them, draped in the flag with his shirt in their possession. One of the lads pulled the shirt on with pride, which was lovely to see.

This was an important win against a team who have had a good start to the season. It was great to maintain our unbeaten record at home and to see that the crowds are coming back. Vicarage Road is fun to visit again. If you haven't been for a while, try to get along next week.

We are now two weeks away from the third Taylor Trek when I will be walking 18 miles around Watford and the environs in aid of the Watford FC Community Sports and Education Trust and the Rennie Grove Peace Hospice, two causes very close to my heart. My fundraising is a bit pathetic so far, so if you have a few pennies to spare, please send them my way https://watfordfccsetrust.enthuse.com/pf/frances-lynn-39e39