‘Bouazza Rocket Pushes Watford Past Plucky Pilgrims’
Plymouth 0 – 1 Watford – 11th March 2007
An excellently taken first half goal by midfielder Hameur Bouazza sent Watford through to the FA Cup semi finals. Despite being largely outplayed and out battled by their opponents, Premiership class finishing showed and the relegation battling Hornets made their way into Monday’s draw thanks to an excellent early strike from the Algerian.
With Watford having beaten West Ham to make it to this stage and Plymouth having over come divisional rivals Derby to make the quarter finals, Home Park was rocking for an eagerly anticipated match between two relatively evenly matched sides.
The underdog Pilgrims had the advantage of playing at home but knew that the Hornets would be looking to avoid getting stung in a classic FA Cup shock.
Much of the early play came from Watford and on several occasions the Premiership had loanee Manchester United goalkeeper Ben Foster to thank for keeping the tie level. The lively Scott Sinclair had several shots blocked and David Norris was unlucky not to put his side ahead when he rounded the keeper at the near post but had his shot cleared off the line.
Watford who were yet to mount an attack before the Plymouth pressure went ahead midway through the first half with an excellent strike from Bouazza. A well played short corner found the left footed on the edge of the area and he blasted home first time without giving the keeper a chance. The goal for Watford was not deserved with Priskin and Kabba able to offer little threat up front and it was the Championship side who now began to control the tempo and create the better chances.
Veteran striker Kevin Gallen came agonizingly close to scoring from a free kick but Foster tipped wide. The England goalkeeper was again forced into action to save from an Ebanks-Blake strike and it seemed that an equalizing goal must come soon.
Plymouth were able to make little headway however and despite coming close on several occasions with terrific interplay and cut backs, they were unable to beat Foster or one of his covering defenders. At the other meanwhile Watford were creating little as Adrian Boothroyd became increasingly unsettled on the touchline.
Ebanks Blake should have leveled the tie up before half time but both he and Kevin Gallen failed to make their way onto a cut back from Paul Connolly and still Watford clung on.
In the second half, the momentum was again with Plymouth and with Watford still failing to make their way out of their own half to mount an attack; only wasteful finishing prevented the game from being evened up.
Again Sinclair, on loan from Chelsea, tormented the Hornets down the left but his cross was cleared by a combination of Shittu and De Merritt, before Ben Foster was forced to save from a deflected shot from his own player.
Ian Holloway threw on two substitutes to try and change the game but cutting edge was still clearly missing as Norris blasted over a decent chance late on in the game.
For the first time since they scored Watford mounted an attack and should have made it two but first Priskin and then Francis failed to trouble the keeper with weak shots. Plymouth now became desperate to find an equalizer to send the game into a replay but the high long balls they began playing were perfect for Watford’s tall centre backs to clear and as time ran out on their Cup run they knew that with better finishing the game could have perhaps been different.
The underdog Pilgrims had the advantage of playing at home but knew that the Hornets would be looking to avoid getting stung in a classic FA Cup shock.
Much of the early play came from Watford and on several occasions the Premiership had loanee Manchester United goalkeeper Ben Foster to thank for keeping the tie level. The lively Scott Sinclair had several shots blocked and David Norris was unlucky not to put his side ahead when he rounded the keeper at the near post but had his shot cleared off the line.
Watford who were yet to mount an attack before the Plymouth pressure went ahead midway through the first half with an excellent strike from Bouazza. A well played short corner found the left footed on the edge of the area and he blasted home first time without giving the keeper a chance. The goal for Watford was not deserved with Priskin and Kabba able to offer little threat up front and it was the Championship side who now began to control the tempo and create the better chances.
Veteran striker Kevin Gallen came agonizingly close to scoring from a free kick but Foster tipped wide. The England goalkeeper was again forced into action to save from an Ebanks-Blake strike and it seemed that an equalizing goal must come soon.
Plymouth were able to make little headway however and despite coming close on several occasions with terrific interplay and cut backs, they were unable to beat Foster or one of his covering defenders. At the other meanwhile Watford were creating little as Adrian Boothroyd became increasingly unsettled on the touchline.
Ebanks Blake should have leveled the tie up before half time but both he and Kevin Gallen failed to make their way onto a cut back from Paul Connolly and still Watford clung on.
In the second half, the momentum was again with Plymouth and with Watford still failing to make their way out of their own half to mount an attack; only wasteful finishing prevented the game from being evened up.
Again Sinclair, on loan from Chelsea, tormented the Hornets down the left but his cross was cleared by a combination of Shittu and De Merritt, before Ben Foster was forced to save from a deflected shot from his own player.
Ian Holloway threw on two substitutes to try and change the game but cutting edge was still clearly missing as Norris blasted over a decent chance late on in the game.
For the first time since they scored Watford mounted an attack and should have made it two but first Priskin and then Francis failed to trouble the keeper with weak shots. Plymouth now became desperate to find an equalizer to send the game into a replay but the high long balls they began playing were perfect for Watford’s tall centre backs to clear and as time ran out on their Cup run they knew that with better finishing the game could have perhaps been different.