Will Hoskins' first goal for Watford earned the Hornets a Carling Cup first round triumph over Bristol Rovers.
Hoskins strikes late as Watford progress to round two
Will Hoskins' first goal for Watford in the dying moments earned the Hornets a Carling Cup first round triumph over Bristol Rovers at Vicarage Road.
Hoskins has rarely played for Watford since signing from Rotherham in January 2007 but demonstrated sound composure to finish past Steve Phillips with two minutes remaining.
The result was harsh on Paul Trollope's men who showed why they were surprise FA Cup quarter-finalists last season with some crisp football, but it marked Watford's first win since 5th April.
Hoskins had the first sight of goal in the fourth minute when he turned on the edge of the area but his low drive was well held by Phillips in the Rovers net.
Jeff Hughes was then played clean through by an exquisite pass from Rickie Lambert but chose to turn onto his favoured left foot instead of shooting first time and lost the chance.
Cute
Theo Robinson then should have put the Hornets ahead when Hoskins played a cute ball over the top but he scuffed his shot across the face of the goal.
The League One side began to dominate and went close to an opener in the closing minutes of the first half when Chris Lines played a lovely ball inside Mat Sadler for the overlapping David Pipe.
Pipe clipped a ball over goalkeeper Scott Loach but saw it drop agonisingly wide as Darryl Duffy failed to make the telling connection at the far post.
Hoskins - keen to impress on a rare outing - was again quick to let fly as the second half began in a torrential downpour but his low shot was once more wide of the mark.
Rovers centre-half Steve Elliott whistled a free-kick narrowly wide as Trollope's side continued to play the more progressive football.
Blasted
Boothroyd then introduced 18-year-old Lewis Young - brother of Aston Villa's former Hornet Ashley - and he instantly created a chance which Damien Francis blasted over.
Young excited the crowd with a few runs his brother would have been proud of before another young substitute created the chance for Hoskins.
Billy Gibson seized on a loose pass in midfield and played a well-weighted ball inside the full-back for Hoskins to run onto.
The striker took a touch before calmly curling the ball home to book the Hornets' place in the second-round draw.
