Phil Brown is on course to end 104 years of frustration for Hull after his golden oldies piled more misery on Aidy Boothroyd's Hornets.
Nicky Barmby and Dean Windass are desperate to finish their careers in the Premier League and the prospect edged closer after this convincing win at Vicarage Road as the Tigers closed in on top-flight football for the first time in their 104-year history.
With a combined age of 73, the pair probably thought their hopes of a return to arenas such as Old Trafford and Anfield were well and truly over.
But Watford - who had John Eustace sent off - must now complete a more remarkable transformation than the American Werewolf to halt Hull's charge for the top flight.
But Tigers boss Brown - with sunglasses on as he addressed the press - is refusing to get carried away by the bright lights of the Premier League just yet. He said: "It's still all to play for and I'm not taking anything for granted.
"I'm disappointed we didn't get a third and that's crazy - to come away from a game disappointed with a 2-0 win. I've told the players that.
"The key to our changing room is the experience and they will be guarding against complacency. Nobody will be allowed to take their foot off the gas.
"It's been an up and down season for Nicky but I was delighted with him. For him and Dean to both score is magnificent.
"It will be Nicky and Dean that get the headlines but our defence and goalkeeper were outstanding. Watford surprised us by changing their game plan but I thought we stood up to everything.
"We'll be preparing for the next game with a winning mentality and not taking a draw into account."
Watford only sneaked into the play offs on goal difference and their run this year would look embarrassing even to the three teams relegated from the Championship. With only one win in 15 matches - and four straight home defeats - Boothroyd can only take confidence from Watford's excellent away record into the second leg.
His stumbling troops looked to have made a perfect start when Dan Shittu headed in Jobi McAnuff's corner but the goal was disallow we dafter a dubious foul on Boaz Myhill.
But a boisterous Vicarage Road was silenced within 23 minutes. Fraizer Campbell capitalised on a weak Shittu header to race into the area and his clever pull-back was converted by Barmby.
Then Windass headed in his 200th career goal after Campbell's header hit Leigh Bromby and rebounded off the bar. Myhill tipped over driven efforts from McAnuff and Tommy Smith but the Tigers were well in control.
Watford improved after the break, with Myhill producing an incredible reflex save to keep out Matt Sadler's volley, but after Eustace's dismissal for a foul on Richard Garcia and then an alleged head butt on Ian Ashbee, the game was up.
Boothroyd will appeal against Eustace's straight red card and said: "I would imagine it is advantage Hull - but anything can happen and we still think we're alive.
"We've got nothing to lose and if we score first you just never know. We're good away and Hull are good at home so it should be a cracking game.
"That was as well as we have played for a long time but defensive lapses cost us - and refereeing decisions. The goal should have stood and it was not a sending-off.
"But whenever you stop believing you're dead - and we still believe."