DAVID Healy hit a last gasp winner to ensure Preston took maximum points at Deepdale.
The Northern Irish international hit from outside the box on 92 minutes after substitute Pawel Abbott laid the ball into his path from Graham Alexander's cross.
After watch from the bench as North End frustrated themselves with a first half performance which saw chances go begging, Abbott came on at the start of the second and hit the back of the net within four minutes.
Healy sent a defence-splitting ball to the feet of the young Polish international, whose crisp finish hit the post before crossing the line having already beaten keeper Lenny Pidgeley.
Watford equalised when Scott Fitzgerald beat Michael Keane on the wing before crossing in to Danny Webber who slammed the ball past keeper Jonathan Gould.
After watching Healy's winner two minutes into stoppage time, manager Craig Brown said: "Even that late, I hadn't give up hope that'd we get the winner. It was coming."
PNE 2
WATFORD 1
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