BATTLING Cherries were sunk by substitute Scott Fitzgerald as they crashed out of the Carling Cup at the first hurdle at Vicarage Road on Tuesday night (Aug 12).

Fitzgerald popped up to settle an evenly-matched contest 18 minutes into extra-time - and just seconds after he had come off the bench.

The striker, signed from non-league Northwood, netted with his first touch after latching onto a cross from fellow substitute Lee Cook.

Cherries had more than matched their Division One opponents throughout the 90 minutes and also had chances themselves in added time.

A minute's silence in memory of Watford loan signing Jimmy Davis, who was killed in a road accident in the early hours of Saturday morning, was impeccably observed by both sets of supporters before kick-off.

Rival captains Carl Fletcher and Neil Cox both laid wreaths in the centre circle as a mark of respect to the 21-year-old who had joined the Hornets on a season-long loan from Manchester United.

And as a further tribute, the teams were greeted when they took to the pitch by Coolio's Gangsta's Paradise, the song sung by Davis during his Watford initiation on a pre-season tour to Finland.

After kick-off had been delayed for 15 minutes due to congestion outside the ground, Cherries made most of the early running and created the first chance in the seventh minute when Steve Fletcher stretched to meet Wade Elliott's centre but failed to trouble Watford goalkeeper Alec Chamberlain with his header.

As the Hornets began to find their feet, Marcus Gayle's free-kick from 25 yards sailed over the crossbar before a header from Danny Webber also cleared the woodwork.

Cherries were thankful to a superb block tackle from Karl Broadhurst on Richard Johnson who looked to profit after Neil Moss had slipped as he came off his line to chase down a through ball.

A trademark run from deep by Elliott ended with the midfielder sending his final shot wide of the target before Heidar Helguson glanced a header from a Neal Ardley centre past Moss's right-hand post.

Carl Fletcher blazed a right-foot drive high over the crossbar after Danny Thomas had cut back a free-kick into his path, while at the other end, Webber was allowed space to turn and shoot, although his effort was charged down by Fletcher and went out for a corner.

As play swung from end to end, Thomas sent a fierce left-foot drive flashing past the post following a neat build-up involving Steve Fletcher and James Hayter before Cherries' appeals for a penalty fell on deaf ears after Elliott had taken a tumble under a challenge from Gavin Mahon.

Watford fans behind Chamberlain's goal were again forced to take cover when Steve Purches ballooned a right-foot effort over the woodwork following a short-corner routine which saw Carl Fletcher step over Hayter's delivery.

Cherries had a let-off at the start of the second half when Helguson and Webber collided as they attempted to meet Ardley's centre before the Hornets had an even bigger escape when Carl Fletcher's header from Hayter's corner hit the base of Chamberlain's left-hand post.

Hornets striker Bruce Dyer, who did not have a sniff of goal in the first half, had a 59th-minute effort ruled out for offside, a hairline decision which predictably proved unpopular with the Vicarage Road faithful.

Another timely interception from Broadhurst prevented Webber from going through on goal before Moss excelled himself by tipping Ardley's goalbound free-kick over the crossbar in the 62nd minute.

Cherries defended stoutly as the Hornets pressed forward in search of an opener, although Ray Lewington's side failed to seriously trouble Moss, despite enjoying the lion's share of possession as the second half progressed.

Moss was eventually tested seven minutes from time when Micah Hyde tried his luck from distance, the Cherries goalkeeper diving to his left to keep out the midfielder's long-range effort.

In the closing stages, Helguson headed over with the goal at his mercy following a cross from Hornets' lively substitute Lee Cook, the Icelandic star's effort proving to be the final chance of the 90 minutes.

The first opportunity of extra-time fell to Steve Fletcher who headed the ball straight to Chamberlain after outjumping the Hornets defence to meet Elliott's deep centre.

Helguson and Marcus Browning were involved in a flare-up just three minutes into added time, but referee Iain Williamson took no action against either player before Steve Fletcher saw another header saved by Chamberlain.

A well-taken free-kick by Garreth O'Connor was pushed around the post by Chamberlain before Steve Fletcher was again denied by the Hornets stopper after nodding Browning's cross goalwards.

Cherries substitute Warren Feeney blasted a left-foot shot high over the crossbar after getting in behind the Watford defence before the hosts finally made the breakthrough three minutes into the second period of extra-time.

Hyde clipped the ball wide to Cook on the left who in turn despatched a low centre into the Cherries six-yard box where fellow substitute Fitzgerald applied the finishing touches at the far post.

In the dying seconds, an effort from Hayter looped the wrong side of the post as Cherries went close to taking the tie to a penalty shoot-out.