It's been a frustrating old season, but what a great way to sign off!

Town weathered an early Watford storm to stamp their authority on their final Championship contest and chalk up their best away win since putting six without reply past Wycombe back in the 2011-12 League I promotion campaign.

A second successive victory on the road after the survival-sealing 2-1 success at Yeovil featured a superb full debut by Joe Lolley and a first career hat trick for Danny Ward.

The 22-year-old came off the bench on the half hour after Nahki Wells was clattered by Marco Cassetti and could not continue.

And he took full advantage, taking his season’s goal haul into double figures (another first) and leaving supporters wondering whether he will earn a new contract (manager Mark Robins hinted afterwards that the answer could be yes).

Lolley, Town’s £350,000 January signing from Kidderminster, will certainly be around next term.

The 21-year-old, who finished last season playing for lowly Littleton in the Midland Combination, capped an amazing 12 months by following up five Town substitute appearances with a full debut, and a first goal for the club.

Watford (1) v Huddersfield Town (4) - Joe Lolley celebrates his goal
Watford (1) v Huddersfield Town (4) - Joe Lolley celebrates his goal

It came 24 seconds into the second half, and it was no fluke, because Lolley had impressed in an opening period Town bossed after Alex Smithies had made a couple of crucial early saves.

He did his fair share defensively, and was pleasingly positive up front, with his goal fired in after he twisted and turned past Gabriele Angella.

The moment was made even sweeter because it came in front if Town’s excellent travelling contingent of 1,003 fans in a 15,370 crowd, who gave Lolley a rousing ovation when he was replaced by Sean Scannell after 68 minutes.

By that stage, he had set up Ward’s first two goals, the first of which slipped through keeper Jonathan Bond’s grasp, the second going in off the left-hand post.

Ward, who has so often got himself into great positions without being able to apply that clinical final touch, completed his treble direct from a free-kick out on the right, squeezing his shot between Bond and the near post.

Watford (1) v Huddersfield Town (4) - Danny Ward celebrates the second of his three goals
Watford (1) v Huddersfield Town (4) - Danny Ward celebrates the second of his three goals

It was a shame Watford managed to claim a consolation, the muscular and much sought-after Troy Deeney shooting home from the penalty spot in stoppage time, because Smithies deserved to add to his nine clean sheets.

He made fine early stops from Cristian Battocchio and Watford full debutant Alex Jakubiak, and when Beppe Sannino’s side staged a rare attack just before the break, combined with Paul Dixon to deny Argentinian midfielder Battocchio again.

Dixon had a good game at left-back, working hard to quell the threat of fellow Scot Ikechi Anya, while Tommy Smith ended a season of great promise with a 26th appearance and a solid show on the right of a back four which also featured Joel Lynch and Anthony Gerrard, who made way for departing skipper Peter Clarke after 83 minutes.

Clarke, a fine servant in his five years at the club, was another to get a great reaction from the faithful, whose backing at away games has been loyal and vocal all season.

Watford (1) v Huddersfield Town (4) - Adam Hammill points to Peter Clarke for the fans
Watford (1) v Huddersfield Town (4) - Adam Hammill points to Peter Clarke for the fans

For Jonathan Hogg, it was a happy return to Watford, as the £400,000 former Hornet combined with Adam Clayton and Ollie Norwood, who took over set-piece duties from Adam Hammill, to form an effective midfield triumvirate.

With former Town manager Lee Clark’s Birmingham escaping the drop by drawing 2-2 at Bolton, Watford held on to 13th place despite a fourth straight defeat and first at home in 12.

Given their points haul over the first two-thirds if the season, Town really should have been up around that position at least.

Now Robins will aim to use this performance as a platform from which to launch a more successful 2014-15.

Run of the ball

3mins: Alex Jakubiak puts the ball right across the face of the Town goal with no Watford teammate able to get a touch.

4mins: Alex Smithies leaves his area to kick clear as Cristian Battocchio chases Troy Deeney's through ball.

6mins: Smithies smothers as Jakubiak shoots from Ikechi Anya's cross.

9mins: Nahki Wells shoots from distance, but his effort is held by Jonathan Bond.

13mins: Paul Dixon breaks dangerously but shoots over.

14mins: Adam Clayton's shot from Ollie Norwood's deep corner is blocked.

16mins: Joe Lolley shoots over from Clayton's pass.

38mins: Danny Ward puts a shot wide.

39mins: Dixon and Smithies combine the thwart Battocchio.

40mins: Adam Hammill's shot is held.

43mins: Bond saves Norwood's free-kick.

46mins: Lolley twists past Gabriele Angella and shoots home to put Town ahead.

51mins: Lolley's low shot goes just wide.

55mins: Lolley sets up Ward for Town's second, a low shot which squirms through the keeper's grasp.

61mins: Bond saves as Ward shoots on the turn.

65mins: Ward bags his second, again teed up by Lolley, as his shot goes in off the left-hand post.

74mins: Tommy Smith's spinning cross has Bond scrambling.

88mins: Ward has his hat trick, shooting home direct from a free-kick on the right.

90+1mins: Cassetti heads against the bar.

90+2mins: Troy Deeney grabs Watford's consolation goal from the penalty spot.

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