TWO wonder strikes propelled Watford up to second in the Coca-Cola Championship after a thrilling 2-1 victory against Norwich City at Vicarage Road tonight.

Marlon King smashed a half-volley past Robert Green and then Ashley Young drove a powerful left-footed effort past the England international to put Watford on easy street after a scintillating first-half performance.

But, after Kevin Lisbie reduced the deficit after the break, Norwich piled forward and could have stole a point in the final moments but Gary Doherty hit the post and then Ben Foster superbly tipped over a Dean Marney header.

With Darius Henderson and Gavin Mahon still not ready to return it was no surprise that Adrian Boothroyd opted to keep faith with the same starting line-up that were victorious at Stoke.

Norwich, fresh from their first league victory of the campaign against Plymouth, showed just the one change, with on-loan striker Lisbie coming in for Paul McVeigh, who was on a bench that also included another loan signing, Tottenham's Calum Davenport.

The two sides took their time to size each other up early on but Watford were soon zipping the ball around on the greasy turf and King and Paul Devlin both tested the Norwich defence with dangerous crosses before the on-loan Forest striker tried his luck from 25 yards only to see his shot blocked by the defender.

And it was King who fired the home side into the lead in spectacular fashion on 12 minutes with an early goal-of-the-season contender. Clark Carlisle floated the ball down the left-hand channel and King took the ball down perfectly and then slipped past the outside of Craig Fleming before driving down the left-hand side of the penalty are, cutting inside and planting a beautiful right-footed half volley across Robert Green and into the far top-hand corner.

Norwich responded well though and after James Chambers had needlessly fouled 30 yards out, Andy Hughes should have done better with his header from Jim Brennan's cross but ballooned over.

Spring then came so close to doubling the lead seven minutes when, after instigating a move which involved King and Anthony McNamee spreading the play right to Devlin, he just got underneath the resultant cross from ten yards and flashed a header wide.

Ashton produced City's first on-target effort after 22 minutes but Ben Foster easily gathered his curling left-foot attempt.

However, Young then scored Watford's second wonder strike of the night to double the advantage. A hurried Hornets clearance was flicked on by Spring to King on the half-way line. With two City defenders in front of him, King drove forward and then released Young who had overlapped down the right. The Watford youngster made for the box, cut back onto his left foot and found Green's top left-hand corner with a vicious strike from 18 yards.

Watford were now playing some wonderful stuff, with Spring bossing the midfield, McNamee coming into his own and King a constant threat.

And there was almost a third five minutes before the break; Spring took a quick free-kick just in the Norwich half and King flicked into the path of Young, who slipped the ball inside to Mackay but the former Scottish international slid the ball just wide of Green's right-hand post from 18 yards out, dead centre.

King then crashed a volley off the inside of the keeper's right-hand post after Jason Shackell misjudged the bounce of the ball and King pounced eight yards out, flashing the effort across Green.

Half-time: Watford 2 Norwich City 0 Norwich introduced Paul McVeigh and Davenport at the start of the second-half in a desperate attempt to salvage something from the game but still Watford looked the more lively and, after Lisbie handled on the edge of his box, Young bent the free-kick around the wall but just past Green's right-hand post.

Norwich did enjoy more possession after the break but were creating very little against a resolute Watford defence. Lisbie did get on the end of a Marney corner but headed straight at Foster.

At the other end, Blizzard dragged an effort wide from 25 yards after good link-up play in what was becoming an increasing infrequent Watford attack.

And Norwich grabbed a life-line just after the hour mark when Foster could only parry Marney's swerving long range effort and Lisbie followed up to drill low past the keeper from eight yards.

Boothroyd responded by taking off Devlin and Blizzard for Bangura and Doyley and pushing Chambers into midfield.

Fired up by the goal, the visitors piled forward but still struggled to create chances, although Watford did endure some nervy moments on the edge of their penalty area.

But Watford had a massive let-off in the 89th minute when Gary Doherty rose well to meet a Marney corner but saw his effort cannon of Foster's right-hand post. Marney then crashed a half-volley from 18 yards a foot wide of the Watford keeper's other post a few moments later.

King could have settled it in the third minute of injury time but lost his footing after taking advantage of indecision in the Norwich box and, at the other end, Foster brilliantly tipped over Marney's header in the 94th minute.

Watford: Foster; Chambers, Carlisle, Mackay, Stewart; Devlin, Blizzard, Spring, McNamee; King, Young. Substitutes: Devlin for Doyley and Bangura for Blizzard after 62 mins; Bouazza for McNamee after 78 mins. DeMerit, Chamberlain not used.

Norwich City: Green; Colin, Fleming, Shackell Drury; Marney, Hughes, Safri, Brennan; Lisbie, Ashton. Substitutes: McVeigh and Davenport for Shackell and Brennan after 45 mins;; Doherty for Colin after 80 mins. Gallacher, Jarrett not used.

Bookings: Ashton for persistent fouling after 81 mins; Bangura after 89 mins; Lisbie after 89 mins.

Attendance: 13,502 (1,930 City) Referee: Paul Armstrong (Thatcham, Berks).