A DARIUS HENDERSON double was enough for Watford to return to winning ways against Ipswich at a sunny Vicarage Road on Easter Monday.

Darius Henderson is congratulated after scoring for Watford

The home side had much the better of the first half and went in at the break deservedly ahead through Henderson's 33rd minute header only for another flat second half performance almost costing them two points.

The visitors equalised on 57 minutes when Forster headed home but the game's third headed goal, from Henderson with 13 minutes left clinched the points for the Hornets.

Aidy made two changes as Marlon King was ruled out through suspension and Matthew Spring after picking up a knock on Friday.  Anthony McNamee replaced King, with Ashley Young playing through the middle and Al Bangura filled Spring's shoes in midfield.

Watford almost drew first blood on six minutes when Ashley Young headed against the bar from a McNamee corner.  In the follow-up, Price managed to block Carlisle's shot and then Mackay blasted straight at Naylor.  A close shave for the visitors.

Just two minutes later Young came close again wheh he curled a 20-yard free-kick just over the bar.

It took fully 17 minutes for Ipswich to threaten for the first time when McEveley played Bowditch in only for the young striker to pull his shot well wide of Foster's left-hand post. 

The visitors were growing in confidence and Lee tested Foster again on 20 minutes with a powerful right-footed drive that the Hornets' keeper parried round the post.

The game remained quite open with both sides willing to put some passes together and create promising situations, none more so than when McNamee curled a neat effort round the post after some good work from Young.

In Watford's next attack, Mahon sprayed the ball out wide to Eagles on the right and the on-loan winger cut inside to shoot, only to see the ball deflect wide off Richards.

From the resulting corner, Henderson hooked an effort over his head and just over the bar.

The chances continued to come at both ends as Ipswich came close on 25 minutes.  Some god link up play between Lee and Forster in the centre circle put the latter in the clear and it needed a great save from Foster to keep the score at 0-0.

The deadlock was finally broken on 33 minutes and it was made by a good pass from Eagles to McNamee and then a great cross from the left-footer.

He lifted the ball to the far post where Henderson was waiting to nod home despite a good attempt to save from Price.  Watford had looked dangerous from the start and it was hardly a surprise when they took the lead.

Henderson puts Watford 1-0 up

It was almost doubled in similar fashion a minute later when Eagles' right-wing cross looked destined for Henderson at the far post, only for De Vos to get a vital touch and take it off the head of the big Hornets striker.

Watford continued to look much the sharper and came inches away from doubling their lead in first half stoppage time.  DeMerit's neat header put Young in behind the Town defence and the youngster's shot was well saved by Price who tipped it round the post.

Half Time: Watford 1 Ipswich Town 0

Joe Royle made a double substitution at half time, bringing on Darren Currie and Danny Haynes for Bowditch and Brekke-Skard.

The visitors were quite justified in their complaints ten minutes into the second half when Mackay appeared to trip Lee in the box.  The referee was having none of the appeals for a penalty, however and waved play on.

However, the equaliser didn't take long to come as Forster headed the visitors level on 57 minutes.  Currie swung in a free kick from the right and Forster rose above the Hornets defence and made no mistake with his header.

It was all action as Watford appeared to have re-taken the lead two minutes later, only to see the goal chalked off for offside.

Mackay headed Young's free kick back across goal to Henderson whose first effort was saved only for him to poke home the rebound and turn away in celebration before being denied by the referee's assistant.

Alan Lee became the first name to go into the referee's book on 63 minutes for a sly shove on Mackay.

The game then went into a very messy stage, littered with free kicks and misplaced passes as neither side looked very threatening.  In an effort to shake things up, Aidy made his first change on 70 minutes, bringing on James Chambers for Eagles.

It took seven more minutes before Watford re-took the lead.  Young found space on the right and his cross found the onrushing Henderson who again converted with his head from inside the six-yard box.

Henderson's second goal restores Watford's lead

The ongoing spat between Mackay and Lee saw the Watford man go into the book for a challenge on the Town striker on 80 minutes and a minute later Aidy made his second change with Jordan Stewart replacing McNamee.

Ipswich youngster Jaime Peters replaced Alan Lee in the 89th minute but Watford held on comfortably to claim all three points.

After the match, Aidy Boothroyd came onto the pitch to ask the Watford fans to wait behind as he wanted to stage a penalty shoot-out on the pitch in preparation for the play-offs.

The fans were delighted to watch as a 'red' Watford team took on the 'yellows' with all outfield players taking a shot.  There will be more about the shoot out, including some great pictures, on the website on Monday.

Line Ups

Watford: Foster; Doyley, Carlisle, Mackay, DeMerit; Eagles (Chambers 70), Bangura, Mahon (c), McNamee (Stewart 81); Young, Henderson. Subs not used: Chamberlain (GK), Mariappa, Robinson

Ipswich: Price; Sito, De Vos (c), Naylor, McEveley; Brekke-Skard (Haynes 45), Juan, Richards; Lee (Peters 89), Bowditch (Currie 45), Forster. Subs not used: Supple (GK), Wilnis

Referee: Mr. C. Webster

Attendance: 16,721 (1,567 visiting fans)

by Iain Moody at Vicarage Road