Former Parmiter’s pupil Harry Crawford stopped Watford Reserves from going top of the table by grabbing the equaliser for Southend United last night.

The Hornets took the lead early on through first-year scholar Connor Smith but Crawford’s low strike with just over quarter of an hour remaining secured the point for United.

Watford moved level on points with Combination East Division-leaders Ipswich Town and Oxford United following last night’s point but in truth, they were slightly fortunate to come away with anything.

Football’s Next Star runner-up Smith handed Watford the lead in the second minute with a looping strike but when the Irishman went off injured around the half-hour mark, the Hornets struggled to create going forward.

First-year scholar Bonham showed why he has already been handed a professional contract by the Hornets with several saves in either half but Crawford grabbed the deserved equaliser in the 73rd minute.

Watford trialist Aiden Palmer played the full 90 minutes. More on Palmer will be uploaded to the Watford Observer website later today.

The Hornets are level on points with Ipswich and Oxford at the top of the table with two matches remaining, but the Golden Boys do have a game in hand on the other two sides.

Watford: Bonham; Horner, Aldred, Hoban, Palmer; Murray (Akubune 82), Hamilton-Forbes (Gardner 60), Isaac, Tumwa; Smith (Deer 30), Assombalonga. Subs not used: Irving, Hemati.