Carabao Cup: Stevenage 1-1 Watford (4-3 pens): Hornets out of Cup after penalties loss to Stevenage

League 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 March 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 March 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 Healey 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 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."