The starting line-up was Bond, Young, Doherty, O’Nien, Johnson (c), Brown, Tapoko (trialist), Smith, Jakubiak, Rosenthal and Fabbrini.  Former Watford youngsters Jonathan North and Elliott Godfrey started for Wealdstone.  There was a nice gesture from the excellent tannoy announcer who welcomed Smith and O’Nien back, both having been there on loan in recent seasons.

Wealdstone website: A young Watford development side were held to a goalless draw by Wealdstone on a sultry summer’s evening at The Vale on Wednesday. Stones can be pleased with their energetic performance against a strong Hornets side sprinkled with professionals and some senior first team squad players.

Wealdstone FC Website: Wealdstone began their pre season campaign on Saturday with a very creditable draw against Championship side Watford. Despite missing a number of first team players, most notably last season’s top scorer Richard Jolly, Stones gave a strong account of themselves against Gianfranco Zola’s outfit and will be more than happy with their afternoon’s work in front of a bumper crowd of 1,335.

Nathan Ellington scored his first goal for Watford since last April in today’s 3-0 win over Wealdstone.

Wealdstone website: The coming season looks bright for Wealdstone on the evidence of this prestigious opening friendly match performance against Championship side Watford boasting virtually their full first team. A fitting compliment from visiting manager Malky McKay who had promised a strong squad for Gordon Bartlett’s testimonial and the crowd were not disappointed.

This was the first game played at Wealdstone’s new home Grosvenor Vale.

Despite the programme implying this was a full strength Watford team, it was very much a second string as the first team had played the previous night at Boreham Wood.

Wealdstone FC website:  Those intrepid fans who had kept Wealdstone Football Club alive and kicking (if only just) for the last 17 nomadic years could not have wished for a better start to this latest chapter in the club’s history. The sun was shining, the newly levelled and re-seeded pitch looked like a bowling green, the areas surrounding the pitch looked new and gleaming courtesy of the hard work put in by many over the last 3 months, and near neighbours Watford had agreed to be the most attractive of opposition for this important occasion.

Hornblogger: The ‘Stones more than earned their win. Two cracking goals past Scott Loach early on were well deserved. We got one back before half time but then scored a bizarre own goal to ensure the home side got the new ground off and running in the right way.

Watford Observer match report