Stoke now lie just 3 points away from a play-off spot and have the same amount of points now that they amassed all last season. 50 points is usually the safety mark and Tony Pulis can now begin to look up the table rather than down.
Stoke were facing difficult opposition in Watford and it was the Hornets who were the brighter side in the opening quarter of an hour. However, it was Stoke who made the breakthrough after 18 minutes. A well worked move finished with Noel-Williams crossing for Akinbiyi to slot home the easiest of chances.
It was not long before Stoke doubled their lead as just two minutes later a wonderful cross from Peter Hoekstra found Noel-Williams in the box who headed superbly past Lenny Pidgeley into the corner of the net.
If Stoke were expecting an easy ride from here on they were brought down to earth when slack marking allowed Heidar Helguson to head home in the 36th minute for his fourth goal in his last four games against the Potters.
However, any chances of a Watford fightback were quickly ended just before the break when Akinbiyi raced on to a Noel-Williams header to fire past Pidgeley for his tenth goal of the season.
The second half was not as eventful but it did see three 'keepers in the Potters goal. Ed De Goey was taken off with a groin strain and his replacement Neil Cutler was stretchered off the field after colliding with a Watford forward after making a terrific save at the death. John Halls pulled on the gloves but thankfully was not tested in the dying seconds.
Akinbiyi was involved in a goal mouth scramble which could have resulted in a hat-trick for him but his effort was blocked. He too was then taken off with a slight injury to a standing ovation from the crowd.
Stoke moved up to 12th after this win but find themselves just three points outside the playoffs and now the 50 point mark has been reached,there is no reason why Stoke can not make a push for the play-offs particularly with Gerry Taggart in the side who appears to be a lucky charm for the side.
The big defender has not been on the losing side in his two spells at the Britannia Stadium and Stoke's record with him in the side reads as 9 wins and a draw. This record will be put to its biggest test with difficult looking fixtures away at Reading and Sunderland coming up.
However, confidence is so high in the team at the moment that you would not rule out Stoke picking up points in both of these games. Watford's mini run which had seen them win on their last three outings has been brought to an end and manager Ray Lewington must be sick of the sight of Ade Akinbiy as he now has four for the season against the Hornets.
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