Stevenage fought back to win after Watford scored an early openerLeague One Stevenage secured a place in the second round of the Carabao Cup by beating Watford on penalties.The tie was level at 1-1 after 90 minutes after Josh Marsh equalised for the hosts to cancel out Vakoun Bayo’s opener.And Nathan Thompson scored the winning penalty for Stevenage in the shootout. Bayo gave Championship side Watford an early lead by prodding home after being found by Tom Dele-Bashiru’s free-kick – the Ivorian’s second goal in as many games. Stevenage responded well and scored a deserved equaliser shortly before half-time.Watford were unable to clear Jake Forster-Caskey’s right-wing corner and Marsh controlled the ball before firing past keeper Ben Hamer with a clever bicycle kick. Keeper Krisztián Hegyi produced a fine save to deny Bayo in normal time and saved from Rhys Healy in the shootout, while Watford’s Ryan Porteous blasted over.Jamie Reid fired over with the hosts’ first penalty but Jordan Roberts, Forster-Caskey and Alex MacDonald all converted their kicks before Thompson sealed victory. Stevenage put Watford under pressure after a shaky startStevenage boss Steve Evans told BBC Three Counties: “Watford have paid us a huge compliment – they made only a goalkeeper change from a team that tore Queens Park Rangers apart. “Having watched that game twice, it could have been double that (4-0) score. So when you look at the team you know they’re going to be on the front foot and full of confidence. “We struggled to deal with it and after 15 minutes we changed our shape and the momentum of the game changed. “Then, over the first half and the second half, we should probably have won it in normal time. We got in some good areas.”We got the goal and a bit of momentum and looked on the front foot. “It’s a win in the Carabao Cup, which is great, but the focus immediately turns to playing Shrewsbury here (on Saturday).”Watford boss Valerien Ismael told BBC Three Counties: “We started well again and were completely in control after half an hour. “Then for no reason we lost control, we didn’t play anymore and it became a fight and the opponent put us exactly where they wanted; no control, a hectic game.”We created the big chances of the game in the second half and we have to score. Then a penalty shootout is a 50-50 situation. “We took the game seriously and are disappointed about the result. We should have won the game.”Line-upsStevenageFormation 3-4-1-212Hegyi2Wildin4Thompson17Burns14Smith8Forster-Caskey7MacDonald3Butler10Freeman18March20Pressley12Hegyi2Wildin4Thompson17BurnsSubstituted forThompsonat 45’minutes14Smith8Forster-CaskeyBooked at 5mins7MacDonald3Butler10FreemanBooked at 65minsSubstituted forThompsonat 70’minutes18MarchSubstituted forReidat 82’minutes20PressleyBooked at 60minsSubstituted forRobertsat 70’minutesSubstitutes1Ashby-Hammond11Roberts19Reid23Thompson24ThompsonWatfordFormation 4-3-326Hamer2Ngakia5Porteous4Hoedt42Morris10Louza3Sierralta24Dele-Bashiru12Sema19Bayo37Martins26Hamer2NgakiaSubstituted forAndrewsat 34’minutes5Porteous4HoedtBooked at 59mins42Morris10LouzaSubstituted forKayembeat 79’minutesBooked at 90mins3SierraltaBooked at 46mins24Dele-BashiruSubstituted forLivermoreat 61’minutesBooked at 82mins12SemaSubstituted forKonéat 61’minutesBooked at 67mins19Bayo37MartinsSubstituted forHealeyat 79’minutesSubstitutes8Livermore11Koné14Healey15Pollock18Asprilla39Kayembe40Roberts45Andrews47FordeReferee:Charles BreakspearAttendance:4,495Live TextMatch ends, Stevenage 1(4), Watford 1(3).Penalty Shootout ends, Stevenage 1(4), Watford 1(3).Goal! Stevenage 1(4), Watford 1(3). Nathan Thompson (Stevenage) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the high centre of the goal.Goal! Stevenage 1(3), Watford 1(3). Ismaël Koné (Watford) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the centre of the goal.Goal! Stevenage 1(3), Watford 1(2). Alexander MacDonald (Stevenage) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the centre of the goal.Penalty saved! Rhys Healey (Watford) fails to capitalise on this great opportunity, right footed shot saved in the centre of the goal.Goal! Stevenage 1(2), Watford 1(2). Jake Forster-Caskey (Stevenage) converts the penalty with a left footed shot to the bottom right corner.Penalty missed! Bad penalty by Ryan Porteous (Watford) right footed shot is high and wide to the right. Ryan Porteous should be disappointed.Goal! Stevenage 1(1), Watford 1(2). Jordan Roberts (Stevenage) converts the penalty with a left footed shot to the top right corner.Goal! Stevenage 1, Watford 1(2). Francisco Sierralta (Watford) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the bottom right corner.Penalty missed! Bad penalty by Jamie Reid (Stevenage) right footed shot is just a bit too high. Jamie Reid should be disappointed.Goal! Stevenage 1, Watford 1(1). Wesley Hoedt (Watford) converts the penalty with a left footed shot to the bottom left corner.Penalty Shootout begins Stevenage 1, Watford 1.Second Half ends, Stevenage 1, Watford 1.Edo Kayembe (Watford) is shown the yellow card.James Morris (Watford) wins a free kick on the left wing.Foul by Ben Thompson (Stevenage).Attempt missed. Jamie Reid (Stevenage) header from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Dan Butler with a cross.Wesley Hoedt (Watford) wins a free kick in the defensive half.Foul by Jamie Reid (Stevenage).
