ADRIAN BOOTHROYD will have few easier nights in his managerial career as an extremely youthful Watford side passed Notts County off the park en-route to tonight's Carling Cup First Round 3-1 victory at Vicarage Road.

Chief architect for the Hornets was Ashley Young, who scored the first and made the others - Hameur Bouazza and Dominic Blizzard were also on target - but Al Bangura also impressed in the middle of the park while Matt Spring took another step towards full match sharpness with an industrious stint.

But Boothroyd would also have been delighted to have been able to blood the likes of Adrian Mariappa, Joel Grant and Alex Campana and happy to see that none were overawed by the occasion.

As expected, Boothroyd chose to make a host of changes and there were six new faces from Saturday's victory against Burnley, while Lloyd Doyley and Spring were promoted from the bench. Notable among the alterations was debut maker Mariappa.

Notts County also made four changes from the side that drew 1-1 at Stockport County. In came Matthew Gill, Chris Palmer, Andy White and Dan Martin, with Gavin Gordon, Steve Scoffham, Rob Ullathorne and Lewis McMahon all dropping to the bench.

Both sides laid their stall out early on; Watford with Anthony McNamee, Bouazza and Young in a three-pronged attack while the visitors went with a bank of three behind lone striker Andy White.

And the new look Hornets were quick to get the ball out wide at every opportunity as McNamee twice delivered dangerous crosses before the same player whipped in a corner from the left but Clark Carlisle was just beaten to the ball by Julian Baudet with the goal gaping.

It was no surprise though when a McNamee cross provided the opener on 12 minutes. Mariappa played the ball wide to McNamee on the left some 40 yards out and he curled a high ball to the back post and Ashley Young guided his header back across the goal into the far corner.

Watford sprung back into life on 27 minutes with a fine flowing move. After spreading the ball around the back four, Carlisle played the ball forward to Young, who played a quick one-two with Spring and darted into the box only to see his low cross from the right just evade Bouazza.

But Watford did double their lead five minutes later/ After Al Bangura was upended midway in the County half, the free-kick was quickly taken and Young made his way to the by-line but was chopped down in the box by Julian Baudet. Bouazza coolly slotted the penalty low to Pilkington's right.

Half-time: Watford 2 Notts County 0 The second-half was only two minutes old when Watford extended their lead. Young played a one-two with Spring on the right-hand side and delivered the early cross which Pilkington could only palm into the path of Blizzard who drove home from the penalty spot.

Watford were now opening County up with ease and Young, after beating David Pipe twice on the left whipped over another cross which Bouazza just got underneath the ball.

Notts County offered up their first goal attempt on the hour mark - Matthew Gill shooting over - and Steve Scoffham then turned Chris Palmer's low cross wide.

Academy youngster Alex Campana got his first taste of senior action midway through the second-half and was quickly into the thick of the action, turning in the centre circle well and releasing Bangura down the right but his cross just evaded Blizzard.

But it was County who unexpectedly pulled one back on 75 minutes. After a Watford corner was cleared, Mariappa was caught on his heels and lost a tackle to Pipe. The ball rebounded into the path of Palmer who raced from just inside the Watford half and fired low past Chamberlain from 20 yards.

Chamberlain had to beat away a fierce 25-yard Palmer effort on 87 minutes as the visitors took heart from the goal.

But Bouazza almost had the final say in injury time, forcing Pilkington into a fine save as the former Manchester United stopper acrobatically tipped over his bar.

Watford: Chamberlain; Doyley, DeMerit, Carlisle, Mariappa; Bangura, Blizzard, Spring; Young, Bouazza, McNamee. Subs: Campana for Young after 67 mins; Grant for Blizzard after 77 mins; DeMerit for Chambers afer 89 mins. Foster, Stewart not used.

Notts County: Pilkington; O'Callaghan, Baudet, Wilson, Martin; Edwards, Gill; Pipe, Long, Palmer; White. Subs; Ullathorne for Martin after 45 mins; Scoffham for White after 57 mins. Denney, Gordon, McMahon not used.

Bookings: Martin for a foul on Bouazza after 17 mins; O'Callaghan for a foul on Bangura after 31 mins; Attendance: 7,011 (333 away) Referee: Grant Hegley (Bishop's Stortford, Herts)