Charlie MacDonald's first goal in a Brentford shirt was enough to earn his team a creditable pre-season draw against Championship side Watford.

The visitors took the lead early in the first half but MacDonald latched onto a Nathan Elder flick moments after the re-start and lashed the ball past substitute goalkeeper Scott Loach to level things up.

Both sides had chances to win what turned into an entertaining warm-up fixture but the spoils were shared with two weeks to go until the big kick off.

A low-key first quarter of the match - enlivened only by a Tommy Smith effort from the edge of the box which curled past Ben Hamer to give The Hornets the lead - belied what was to come.

Brentford may have been ahead before Smith's opener when MacDonald appeared to be felled inside the box but nothing was given and after the opening goal the Championship side took control.

Lee Williamson shot over from close range and then shot wide after good work by Jobi McAnuff before Jon Harley bobbled a shot past Hamer's post.

Marvin Williams almost created a goal out of nothing when he robbed Watford stopped Mart Poom as the Estonian dithered trying to control a back pass but the winger's shot was cleared off the line by Jay DeMerit.

McAnuff could have doubled the lead but headed over when well placed and Tamas Priskin should have added a second but he could not beat Hamer when he was put through one-on-one.

Elder headed wide for The Bees just before half time and Glenn Poole almost equalised with a powerful headed effort which sailed just past the post.

And Smith almost gave the score line a slightly unfair half time gloss when he rounded Hamer with seconds to go before the break but the Brentford custodian gathered as he chipped back across goal.

MacDonald's strike moments into the second half helped the match continue it's exciting path and both sides created openings.

Priskin headed wide and Adam Newton cleared a Smith effort off the line before Elder headed just wide from a Marc Phillips cross after the trialist had linked well with Newton.

Hamer saved well from Theo Robinson while Loach denied Elder and Newton as The Bees began to gain the upper hand.

Poole almost won the game for The Bees with a fierce low drive which Loach had to turn away and Marcus Bean called the Watford stopper into action again when he met a Newton cross after a lovely Brentford move in the inside right channel.

Ross Jenkins headed wide late on as the visitors tried to snatch the win but neither side could get the second goal and the scores finished level.

Brentford: Hamer; Newton, Osborne, Phillips (sub Johnson 64 mins), Wood (sub Mitchell-Coop 70 mins); Williams (sub Pead 65 mins), Bean, Smith, Poole (sub O'Connor 81 mins); Elder (sub Connell 67 mins), MacDonald

Watford: Poom (sub Loach h/t); De La Cruz (sub Mariappa h/t), Bromby, DeMerit (sub Avinel h/t), Sadler; Eustace; Williamson (sub Robinson h/t), Harley (sub Jenkins 61 mins); Smith (sub Williams 74 mins), McAnuff; Priskin (sub Hoskins 67 mins)

Written by Chris Wickham