Non-league Saint Albans City were on the receiving end of a 5-0 thumping, dished out by neighbours Watford. Never really getting out of second gear, the victors started proceedings with an Ikechi Anya strike 13-minutes in.

Ranegie doubled their lead before an unfortunate Lee Chappell own-goal sent the two teams down the tunnel with differing emotions. Two further goals from Cristian Battocchio put the gloss on this pre-season friendly.

Watford got the game in Hertfordshire underway with new signings Keith Andrews, Lloyd Dyer and Gabriel Tamas donning the new yellow shirt. It was to be the former that created the first significant chance of the afternoon, unfortunately for the Bolton loanee it was for his opponents. The 33-year-old midfielder’s weak header presented Warren McBean with the opportunity to put the Saints in front but the shot was fired straight at the hands of Heurelho Gomes.

Mathias Ranegie has played a part all three friendlies since the Hornets returned from their pre-season trip to Austria and looked lively in the opening exchanges. The big Swede fired just wide of the post with a quarter of an hour gone. The former Udinese man was playing in the middle between Ikechi Anya and Lloyd Dyer respectively. However, it was Ranegie who was to turn provider as he set up the opening goal. Following a goal marginally ruled out for offside the Championship outfit made no mistake the second time around as Scottish international Anya fired past a hapless Tom Coulton.

The Hornets went on to dominate first-half proceedings, as many predicted. Chances for Lewis McGugan were sandwiched in between Sam Cochran's testing effort. The latter rattled the bar as the away side looked to double their lead.

Giuseppe Sannino’s chosen eleven did not have to wait long before the St Albans net rippled for the second time. Many of the Vicarage Road faithful are expecting the team to revert to a flat back four next term and that’s how the defence lined up at Clarence Park. Youth product Tommie Hoban started at right-back and provided an accurate cross towards the head of Mathias Ranegie, who duly headed home from six-yards out. A third was added just before the interval as a Joel Ekstrand header was deflected off Lee Chappell and subsequently trickled over the line.

Joint manager James Gray stated previously to kick-off that his opponents would provide a stern test due to the quality they possess through the ranks. This proved to be the case as Tozser, Doyley, Angella, Fabbrini and Bond came off the bench with the use of unlimited substitutions favouring the away side.

The second 45 started quietly. In fact it would take 10-minutes for any notable occurrences. Diego Fabbrini partook in a reserve game with Wealdstone in the week but the Italian, who was loaned out to Siena last season, cut the ball back to McGugan on the edge of the area but the City keeper parried the ball away well.

Trialist Jack Ward was denied a debut goal from Jonathan Bond as the newly promoted Conference South club looked to nick a consolation. This wasn't to be the case as Christian Battocchio cemented the victory with a delightful chip over the stranded shotstopper after a lofted through ball delivered by the ever impressive Matej Vydra.

The win turned into a thrashing just moments later as Battocchio doubled his tally when the little number seven squeezed the ball under Coulton. In truth this was far from a full strength side put out by Gray and Goulds, Coulton himself is only the back-up keeper and John Frendo, 43 goal top scorer last campaign, was only brought on 55 minutes played.

This proved to be decent run out for both sides under the beating sun. 1,668 turned out to witness a convincing Watford win and would have been impressed with what the Yellow Army had to offer. Newly bestowed captain Troy Deeney made an appearance after missing the 1-0 win over Boreham Wood on Thursday night, certainly a sight for sore eye for all of the travelling contingent.