Free-scoring Ipswich, who have now scored in all their 15 league games this season, created chance after chance and will head back to Suffolk wondering how they failed to win.

Lee gave an indication of what was to come when he made a brilliant 11th-minute save from Tommy Miller, diving to push his volley out for a corner.

In the 21st minute Lee had to make another superb point-blank save to deny Finnish striker Shefki Kuqi, and Watford had their first real chance when Heidar Helguson headed the ball into the hands of goalkeeper Lewis Price.

At the other end Bent was next to test Lee from 25 yards, resulting in another acrobatic stop.

Bent was starting to show the form that has made him a key member of the England Under-21 squad and drew another save from Lee, while Watford's Danny Webber lashed the ball over the crossbar in the 34th minute when well positioned.

There was a fantastic double save by Lee from Bent and Kuqi as the first half ended goalless.

However, only five minutes of the second period had been played when the deadlock was broken. This time Lee could do nothing as a long kick upfield from Price eluded everyone but Ian Westlake ran on to it and unleashed a powerful angled shot that flew into the bottom right corner of the net.

Bent must have been thinking his turn would never come for he had two more efforts held by the in-form goalkeeper before finally finding the target in the 63rd minute. This time Westlake was the provider and Bent lashed the ball home for his fifth goal of the season.

Just when Ipswich thought they were in the comfort zone Watford struck back, Helguson heading home a Neal Ardley corner, and with 17 minutes to go Watford were level again.

Ardley hit a free-kick from 35 yards out which Price spilled and French striker Hameur Bouazza, who had gone on as substitute for Dominic Blizzard, knocked home the rebound.

Bouazza had the best late opportunity to grab a winner but Jason De Vos cleared the ball off the line.

SportingLife.com