St Albans were unlucky not to beat a young Watford XI at Clarence Park yesterday.

Despite the visitors enjoying the majority of possession in the first half, James Russell remained largely untroubled in the Saints' goal.

After the break, and with the introduction of Matt Whichelow among a number of substitutions, the hosts carved out several clear-cut opportunities, but found a Watford trialist keeper - perhaps in even finer form due to the lure of a contract - hard to beat.

Five minutes in, Watford's Alex Jukubiak robbed the ball from Andrew Iwediuno on the edge of the St Albans box and fed Ola Adeyemo, but he fired over when well placed.

Both sides threatened to create chances in the opening stages, but lacked the ingenuity to fashion any clear-cut opportunities.

The nearest either came after Jukubiak's early effort was from the same man again, who looked the most dangerous player on the pitch.

Andrew Eleftheriou fed him down the right and with the striker ready to pull the trigger, Iwediuno took a chance to slide in inside the box - but his tackle was inch perfect to deflect the ball behind.

St Albans were finding themselves in good positions, but the trialist in the Watford goal remained untroubled before out of nothing, they almost carved out a goal right on the half-hour mark.

Last season's top scorer Louie Theophanous drifted in from the left past Eleftheriou, who had struggled defensively, but his cross-cum-shot was cleared before it could be turned in.

Watford went even closer minutes later from a well-worked move. Sean Murray let Eleftheriou's throw drop over his shoulder, before turning and volleying at the St Albans goal from a tight angle.

His effort was well struck, but Russell in the Saints net was always favourite to save it, and he gathered at the second attempt in what ended up the final chance of the half.

Five minutes after the break Connor Stevens was forced off with a leg injury and seconds later the ball fell for Saints substitute and former Watford youngster Whichelow 20 yards out.

His first-time shot forced a diving save out of the Watford trialist keeper, who diverted the ball over.

Chances were beginning to materialise - mostly for the hosts - with Whichelow at the heart of their improvement.

From a similar position to his first strike, he again came close when shooting through the legs of Essaid Belkalem, but ended inches wide of the far post.

And even closer was to follow, as captain Theophanous' header from a corner whistled past the same woodwork for the revitalised Saints.

Three close shaves turned into four when the trialist keeper, who had little opportunity to show his credentials before the break, was again called upon on the hour mark to keep out Shaun Lucien's strike.

A rare Watford chance looked to catch home keeper Russell off guard, but Murray's quickly-taken free kick sailed wide.

They had seen precious little of the ball in the final third since half time, but looked certain to take an undeserved lead with 20 minutes to go.

One of their two second-half trialists received the ball on the left and bent it just beyond the post, when he should at least have forced a save.

Both sides would finish a man down when Watford substitute Max Ryan was unable to continue and the substitutes bench already empty, they played on with 10 men.

In sporting spirit, St Albans followed suit and withdrew Theophanous to rebalance the teams.

But despite a last-gasp chance for Watford substitute Obi, who was denied by Triviano's darting run from his line, St Albans held firm for a draw they at worst deserved, but on their second-half showing perhaps could have won.

Watford: Trialist (Thomas 68); Eleftheriou, Stevens (Huja 50), Belkalem, Trialist (Ryan 67); Murray, Ovenden (Trialist HT) Stewart, Pereira (Trialist HT); Jakubiak (Obi HT), Adeyemo (Folivi HT).

St Albans: Russell (Triviano 79); Herd, Hill, Iwediuno, Bender; Thomas, Hoenes (Merson HT (Kelly 70)); Lucien (Londono 79), Rees (Gibson HT), Theophanous; Morias (Whichelow HT).