Liam Dickinson's stunning strike earned Peterborough United their first away win of the season and the fourth win in eight games for manager Jim Gannon as Watford were beaten 1-0 at Vicarage Road.

Jim Gannon's men made a positive start to proceedings at Vicarage Road, winning a corner inside the opening two minutes, which was headed needlessly behind by Don  Cowie at the back post. The second set-piece from Sergio Torres came to nothing.

Watford responded by winning a corner for themselves after a tackle from Gabriel Zakuani, but the referee Andy Taylor spotted a push on Craig Morgan as the ball was delivered. Mark Little, who had just returned to the field after treatment, volleyed wide via a deflection on 11 minutes and moments later the pressure was really on the hosts.

A long ball was allowed to bounce in the area and Craig Mackail-Smith poked a volley goal-wards, which Loach smothered and then he bounced up to save at his near post as Liam Dickinson sent the rebound towards the bottom corner.

A mistake from Griffiths allowed Cowie to have a strike at goal, but he was leaning back and didn't trouble goalkeeper Joe Lewis. Cleverley, reeturning from suspension to take his place in midfield this afternoon, couldn't keep his volley down after a game of head tennis in the Posh defensive third.

Mackail-Smith scuffed a shot into the legs of Demerit after good work from Dickinson as referee Andy Taylor played an excellent advantage following a foul on Mclean in the build-up.

Lansbury was cautioned for kicking the ball away on 42 minutes, his second offence of the game. Watford were desperately lacking confidence and as the half-time whistle approached, the home faithful were becoming frustrated with their team.

Morgan headed a Tommy Rowe corner wide on the stroke of half-time and the Welsh international will be disappointed he couldn't direct the ball back across the goal. Posh were desperately close to the breakthrough moments later as a throw-in from Griffiths found Mclean, who turned and fired a right-foot volley against the outside of the post and back into play.

Cowie sent a shot for a throw-in a minute into stoppage time before the referee brought an end to proceedings with the scores level at 0-0. Exodus Geohaghon replaced Torres at the interval with the former Kettering man moving into midfield.

Half-time: Watford 0-0 Posh

A snap-shot from Mclean went wide of the target on 49 minutes after a good ball into his path from Rowe. The deadlock was broken on 51 minutes and it was a stunning strike from DICKINSON who lobbed goalkeeper Loach from fully 30-yards after Rowe lad laid the ball back into his path. Loach had ran out to deny Little and was struggling to get back as Dickinson took aim.

Bizarely the goal seemed to lift the Watford faithful, who suddenly stopped booing and started cheering their side. Joe Lewis was called into action on 59 minutes as he denied Mariappa and moments later Danny Graham side-footed over the crossbar after Helguson somehow missed the cross from Cleverley.

A curling effort from Lansbury was gathered by Lewis under no pressure on 64 minutes as Watford again threatened. Zakuani produced a fine tackle to stop Helguson from getting a shot on goal before Martin Taylor joined in with a slick move only to see his shot blocked.

Cleverley, on-loan from Manchester United, curled a 25-yard free-kick over the bar before Gannon introduced Josh Simpson into a tiring midfield with Rowe dropping back to left-back.

On 77 minutes, Watford came close to the leveller as Mariappa saw a shot cleared via the head of Craig Morgan who was well positioned on the six-yard box. Charlie Lee was denied by Loach three minutes later but in truth it was a grass-cutter from the midfielder.

The pressure was now intensifying on the Posh defence with Zakuani and Morgan heroic with their clearances. Reuben Reid replaced the hard-working Mclean with six minutes remaining on the clock.

Goalkeeper Roach made a fine save to push a Dickinson header onto the crossbar on 86 minutes following a long throw from Geohaghon. A bit of poor communication between Morgan and Little led to a free-kick on the edge of the area, but Cleverley fired his effort into the wall. Two corner kicks followed as Posh tried to cling on.

A dipping volley from Will Hoskins nearly dipped in on 88 minutes as the Posh fans held their breath and the visitors were being harshly punished with free-kicks, the latter given against Rowe on the edge of the area.

Hoskins sent a free-kick into the wall and then the offside flag was raised to deny any possible rebound as four minutes of injury time was signalled by the fourth official. Tense was not the word in the visiting support and press box as Posh desperately tried to hold on for the first away win of the campaign.

Final Score: Watford 0-1 Posh

Watford: Loach, Mariappa (sub McGinn 86min), Lansbury, Demerit, Cowie (sub Henderson 72min), Graham (sub Hoskins 62min), Helguson, Doyley, Cleverley, Taylor, Eustace. Unused subs: Jenkins, Harley, Lee, Hodson.

Posh: Lewis, Morgan, Zakuani, Lee, Dickinson, Mclean (sub Reid 84min), Mackail-Smith, Rowe, Little, Torres (sub Geohaghon 46min), Griffiths (sub Simpson 74min). Unused subs: McKeown Day, Crook, Green.

Attendance: 16,591 (1, 491 Posh fans)