A DRAMATIC injury-time goal from Matthew Spring won a pulsating match 3-2 for a Watford side who had twice come from behind to stun the home fans.

Matt Spring's pretty pleased about his winner!

Norwich had taken the lead against the run of play just before half time through a Paul McVeigh penalty only for Darius Henderson to equalise 90 seconds into the second period.

The Hornets then went behind again midway through the second period when Peter Thorne headed home.

Again Henderson levelled the match within two minutes, setting it up for Spring's dramatic intervention, a minute into stoppage time. The win completed the double over Norwich, a side many people had thought would be leading challengers for promotion this season.

Aidy kept faith with the 11 who beat Stoke last week, although Clarke Carlisle, back from suspension, was on the bench.

A bright start from the home side ensured Hornets' keeper Ben Foster was first to warm his gloves, plunging low to his left to beat away City midfielder Jason Jarrett's low 25-yard drive after just six minutes.

Marlon King battles with Gary Doherty

But Watford responded instantly, and Chris Eagles - having exchanged passes with Darius Henderson - perhaps shouldn't have given Robert Green the chance to touch behind his shot having worked a free strike at goal from 15 yards.

And on 14 minutes, clever off-the-ball running from Henderson meant space opened up for Anthony McNamee who was presented with a chance to run and shoot right-footed from the edge of the box. He hit a wrong-footed effort well but it fizzed narrowly wide.

An even contest, then, with Watford offering their usual awayday threat on the counter-attack and Norwich trying to use the pace of Darren Huckerby as a prime attacking outlet on their left-hand side.

However a 29th-minute City free-kick provided the next close shave, Dickson Etuhu - who scored against the Hornets for Preston on the opening day of the season - sending a header from Simon Charlton's delivery only inches wide of Foster's left-hand upright.

Towards the end of the first half, Watford's set-pieces began to cause one or two problems in Green's area. It was Lloyd Doyley's long throws first of all and then the best effort of the first half from a half-cleared Hornets' corner.

Etuhu headed up and away from just inside the box and Matthew Spring absolutely hammered a low volley from 25 yards on 39 minutes, smashing into the foot of Green's left post without him knowing much about the shot.

Anthony McNamee gets past Simon Charlton

Just as Watford appeared to be gaining the upper hand, they went a goal down. Paul McVeigh found some space on the edge of the box and managed to turn Mackay who looked to have pulled the former Tottenham trainee back.

Mr Atkinson, the referee, pointed to the penalty spot immediately, although the offence may have been committed outside the area. McVeigh made sure he fell in the box, perhaps convincing the official to give the spot kick.

He despatched it beyond Foster's despairing dive to put City in front, just two minutes before the break.

Watford then had another excellent chance to get on the scoresheet in the 45th minute as Marlon King turned Fleming and broke free of the home defence. Unfortunately, he had a heavy touch, giving Doherty enough time to get back and block.

From the resulting corner, there was another scramble in the box and Green spilled the ball straight to McNamee's feet. The winger's first shot was blocked but he tried to lob the follow up over the Norwich keeper and in at the far post, only for Charlton to head clear off the line.

Less than 90 seconds into the second half, Darius Henderson grabbed an equaliser for the visitors.

Mahon's ball found King wide on the right and the Hornets' top scorer hammered in a cross-shot which Green palmed straight to the onrushing Henderson who finished left footed off the post.

Just five minutes later, King had the ball in the net, only to be denied by the linesman's flag. A crunching challenge from Jordan Stewart saw the ball break to King and he turn and slotted home, to no avail.

Watford had much the better of the opening stages of the second half and Norwich weren't able to create anything of note until 15 minutes in. A good link up between McVeigh and Hughes on the right saw the latter put in a dangerous cross.

Thorne failed to anticipate the opportunity and was caught flat-footed as the ball flashed across in front of him.

However, the City striker made up for that on 62 minutes by giving his side the lead. For the first time in the match, Huckerby found a way past Doyley on the Norwich left, put in a decent cross for the unmarked Thorne to head home from inside the six-yard box.

Darius and Chris celebrate his second equaliser

Again Norwich's lead lasted two minutes as Darius Henderson equalised for the visitors for a second time on 64 minutes.

Watford were given a free-kick on the edge of the Norwich box after Colin was adjudged to have handled under pressure from King.

The Hornets worked a clever routine from the set piece, resulting in King surprising Green with a shot. The Norwich keeper again parried the ball into the path of Henderson who slotted the ball home to restore a deserved parity.

Both sides reacted by making immediate substitutions. The home side took off goalscorer McVeigh and replaced him with Ian Henderson while Aidy brought on Clarke Carlisle for Jay DeMerit.

Foster then saved Watford's bacon on 67 minutes with a top-quality stop.

Huckerby looked like he was going to cross from a free kick wide on the left but surprised everyone with a shot which the Watford keeper just clawed around the post at full stretch.

With 20 minutes to go, Aidy made a double change. Al Bangura replaced Chris Eagles and Hameur Bouazza took the place of Anthony McNamee.

The home side started to grow in strength and Watford were undoubtedly on the ropes, not helped by some wayward kicking from Foster.

One shanked clearance from the keeper fell to Norwich sub Henderson but he didn't manage to control the ball, thus relieving the danger.

More danger came on 76 minutes when Carlisle was turned by Huckerby who raced into space behind the visiting defence. The former Leeds striker picked out Henderson in the middle but the sub's finish was poor and didn't trouble Foster. A real let-off for the Hornets.

Henderson had a chance to complete his hat-trick on 85 minutes after the ball fell to him from a long-free kick. He turned back inside and hit a shot from six yards which was blocked for a corner.

As the match moved into stoppage time, Watford skipper Gavin Mahon picked up the game's first yellow card. The decision looked a harsh one and the free-kick from a dangerous position was collected by Foster to relieve the pressure.

Matt Spring fires home for Watford's winner

Just when the game appeared to be heading for a draw, Matthew Spring snatched the points for the visitors. Marlon King had the ball wide on the right and played it in to Spring in the six yard box.

The midfielder turned under pressure and poked the ball beyond Green to win the match for the Hornets and complete the double over a good Norwich side.

Line-ups
Watford: Foster; Doyley, DeMerit (Carlisle 65), Mackay, Stewart; Eagles (Bangura 70), Mahon (c), Spring, McNamee (Bouazza 70); Henderson, King. Subs not used: Chamberlain (GK), Chambers.

Norwich: Green; Colin, Fleming (c), Doherty, Charlton; Hughes, Etuhu, Jarrett, Huckerby; McVeigh (Henderson 64), Thorne. Subs not used: Shackell, Brennan, Gallacher (GK), Spillane.

Ref: Martin Atkinson (Leeds).

Attendance: 25,384 (1,344 travelling Hornets)

by Richard Walker and Iain Moody at Carrow Road