TWO headed goals saw the Golden Boys come back from a goal down to beat Ipswich Town at Vicarage Road.

A dramatic fightback saw Watford need two second half goals to beat Jim Magilton's men.

The 'Orns had fallen behind to Pablo Counago's first half strike and were over-run for many stages of the first period but the introduction of John-Joe O'Toole at half time sparked the Hornets into life.

Midfield man John Eustace equalised to make it a dramatic finish and O'Toole headed home from close range after 'keeper Richard Wright could only spill Jobi McAnuff's drive from the right hand flank.

Irish eyes are smiling as O'Toole nets the late winner

With left back Mat Sadler out of the game due to injury, boss Aidy Boothroyd handed a rare start to young Academy graduate Jordan Parkes at a sun-kissed Vicarage Road.

Meanwhile Tamas Priskin started in attack alongside man-of-the-moment Tommy Smith, Grzegorz Rasiak missing out due to a broken bone in his shoulder.

Jon Harley and McAnuff shook off knocks in time to start the game, both occupying the wide positions in midfield.

There was also a place on the bench for rookie forward Liam Henderson after his midweek debut in the Carling Cup win over Darlington. 

The visitors handed league debuts to the experienced duo of Ivan Campo and Moritz Volz.

In front of the Sky cameras the game started in dramatic fashion as Jim Magilton's men took an early goal advantage.

It was a gifted goal in truth, rather than a moment of brilliance on the ball as goalkeeper Mart Poom misjudged a routine backpass.

His tame clearance landed at the feet of striker Counago and he had the simple task of passing the ball into the net.

Poom did his best to clamber back across goal but it wasn't enough as the ball rolled over the line to give the visitors the lead.

That early opener clearly lifted the Tractor Boys and they looked composed and calculated as they attacked forward.

Campo was the calming influence in midfield as the visitors looked lively through the pace of Kevin Lisbie in attack.

He got away once as the Hornets were sloppy in possession, but was eventually crowded out by the Watford defence.

The Golden Boys were largely held back as Magilton's men passed and pressed the ball well. Goalscorer Counago and Jonathan Walters combined well down the left before Walters sent in a wonderful delivery.

Luckily for the 'Orns Lisbie couldn't quite get to the ball and the home side cleared their lines.

Little was going right for Boothroyd's men as they mistimed simple passes and gave the ball away far too cheaply.

With just over 20 minutes gone the Tractor Boys should have added a second with a ball that split the defence, Parkes kept Lisbie onside but the ex-Colchester man dinked his shot into the side netting.

Watford came close to equalising in the 26th minute when McAnuff enjoyed a rare break away and threaded an inch perfect ball through to Priskin.

The Hungarian evaded the diving Richard Wright but was unable to get his shot in on goal and went down inside the six yard box.

Despite the vocal claims of the team and the home crowd referee Mr Probert waved away the claims.

It had been a rare opening in a period when the visitors dominated the majority of possession and had taken advantage of the gift given to them.

That marked a slight upturn in fortunes for the 'Orns as they slowly started to carve out some openings of their own, much to the relief of Boothroyd and Malky Mackay on the touchline.

Watford forced a corner minutes later but Smith could only tamely head goal-wards following a deep delivery to the back post, which gave Wright the easiest of saves.

These chances did equate to the best spell that the Hornets had had in the first period. Watford continued to press and McAnuff floated an inch perfect ball in to the far post where Harley had arrived late.

The ex-Chelsea man directed a diving header goal-wards but it cannoned back off Wright's left hand post. It bobbled around the six yard box but the 'Orns couldn't get to the ball in time before Ipswich cleared their lines.

The Golden Boys picked up their first booking later on in the half when John Eustace tripped an onrushing Town player over by the by-line next to the Rous Stand. It was a clear booking and meant the ex-Stoke skipper had to be on his best behaviour for the remainder of the game.

Watford had one final chance in time added on at the end of the first half but McAnuff could only direct his shot over the bar following a low ball in from Parkes.

Boothroyd made a half time change, replacing Parkes with the more attacking minded O'Toole.

The Irishman slotted into an attacking position, supporting Priskin, with Harley moving back to the left full back position.

Smith moved out to the right hand flank, a position he filled with such grace last season. 

This half the Hornets started in a more positive frame of mind, and an early spell of pressure saw Priskin head towards goal.

But the Hungarian saw his effort tipped wide by Wright - it was a great save and needed a top reaction from the Ipswich man. Debutant Volz was also on the post if the former Arsenal man hadn't of got to it.

In the 55th minute Poom produced a top save to deny the impressive Walters, who had stayed onside and picked up a lovely ball through from full back Volz, who had surged forward down the right flank, despite the best efforts of the tracking McAnuff.

The Hornets made their extra possession count just before the hour mark as they found the all-important equalising goal.

Lee Williamson provided a superb corner and Eustace easily got away from Campo and powerfully headed past Wright to celebrate his first goal for the club.

Celebration time as Eustace scores his first Watford goal

As the noise levels inside Vicarage Road went up so did the intensity of the Watford attacks.

With the next attack on the over stretched Ipswich defence, McAnuff's low drive brought a low save from Wright. He couldn't hold the ball as Williamson slid in but somehow the 'keeper did enough to put him off as the ball went wide of the post.

Poom had become a spectator for much of the second half but he had to be at his best to tip over Walter's well hit shot in the 68th minute, after the Town attacker had cut in from the left flank.

Yet still the 'Orns kept on picking away at Magilton's men and they came ever-so-close to taking the lead.

Smith picked out Priskin who had somehow managed to stay onside. He sped away down the right hand side of the penalty box and floated an inch perfect ball in to McAnuff, being closely watched by a Town defender.

Somehow the ex-Eagle directed his touch over the bar with Wright stranded.

John-Joe pounces to snatch the winning goal

The visitors weren't just sitting back though as they broke away with 10 minutes left and the 'Orns were lucky to still be drawing. Substitute Jordan Rhodes' glancing header narrowly missed Poom's upright

Boothroyd made a tactical change with less than 10 minutes left, bringing on Damien Francis and Henderson in place of Williamson and Priskin.

Then with four minutes remaining the 'Orns won the game as O'Toole was in the right place at the right time to make it an exciting finish to an end-to-end affair.

With McAnuff terrorising the Town back line he clipped a low shot at Wright, who fumbled the ball back into the path of the Irish under 21 star, who couldn't believe his luck as he nodded past the 'keeper for a late, great winner.

Vicarage Road rose as one at the end to applaud Boothroyd's heroic troops in what was an enthralling Championship affair.

The Tractor Boys bossed the opening 30 minutes but Watford came back stronger and were more impressive after the half time substitution and arrival of Academy graduate O'Toole.

Taking the plaudits... Watford's winning goal scorer

WATFORD (4-4-2): Poom; Doyley, DeMerit (c), Bromby, Parkes (O'Toole h/t); McAnuff, Williamson (Francis 81), Eustace, Harley; Smith, Priskin (Henderson 81). Subs not used: Loach (gk), Mariappa.

IPSWICH (4-3-3): Wright; Volz, McAuley, Naylor, Thatcher; Campo, Trotter (Shumulikoski 81), Miller; Walters, Counago (Rhodes 74), Lisbie (Haynes 66). Subs not used: Supple (gk), Balkestein.

BOOKINGS: WATFORD; Eustace (professional foul 37), McAnuff (professional foul 53). IPSWICH TOWN; Campo (professional foul 17), Volz (professional foul 73).

SENDINGS OFF: WATFORD; none. IPSWICH TOWN; none.

GOALS: WATFORD; Eustace (59), O'Toole (86). IPSWICH TOWN; Counago (2).

ATTENDANCE: 16,345 (1,546 Ipswich supporters)

REFEREE: L Probert.