WATFORD'S second string continued their fine form at Boreham Wood FC tonight (Monday) as they put one past Norwich City in their totesport.com Combination League clash.

Liam Henderson netted the only goal for the home side as the Hornets overcame a physical Canaries outfit.

The away side dominated with their height and presence but Watford took charge of the game, scoring in the 69th minute and then defending well for the rest of the encounter.

Watford had the first opportunity of the game in the opening minutes as they missed a relatively simple chance with Jordan Parkes weaving down the right into the penalty area.

The defender passed the ball across the front of the deserted goal but no Watford player could quite get to the ball in time for the finish.

The visitors answered back by piling on the pressure in the Watford half, the Hornets defenders working hard to keep the away side at bay.

Watford were working very well on the right wing, this time it was Michael Bryan who surged forward for the home side in the eighth minute, but again, the Hornets were unlucky and failed to capitalise on the chance.

The home team looked very promising in midfield, with some great passing play between Andy Yiadom, Kurtney Brooks and Billy Gibson.

Norwich's Cody McDonald had half a chance for the visitors on 11 minutes, but his strike lacked power and it rolled towards the gloves of Golden Boys 'keeper Jonathan North without event.

The Canaries were notably larger and had an obvious physical advantage over the younger Hornets, but this didn't deter the home team to keep pushing for the opening goal.

North made a vital save for the 'Orns with 14 minutes gone as McDonald had a second chance to put Norwich ahead in the game. This time his strike had more power but the Watford 'keeper dived the right way, ensuring the ball stayed out of the net.

As the game neared the 20 minute mark, Gibson dodged past several City players in the middle of the field and fed a beautiful ball through to Henderson who was already on the run through the middle of the 18 yard box.

Henderson picked up the ball on the left hand side of the box, but yet again, there was no one on the end of it and the ball rolled past the open goal-mouth and out for a goal kick.

The game was being played mainly in midfield with the teams quite evenly matched, although the number of chances on goal for the hosts outweighed their visitors.

After taking a knock earlier in the match, Norwich's Zak Whitbread was forced off the field, with Remy Gordon taking his place in the 39th minute.

Two minutes after the Canaries made the change in their defence the Hornets had a chance to score the opening goal, with a screaming shot by Yiadom which was fired with force from the right side of the penalty box.

The crowd at Boreham Wood were on their feet as it looked as though the strike had gone to the back of the net, but the ball had slipped behind the woodwork and out for a goal kick.

In the 44th minute, Watford had another go at goal, thanks to a fantastic run from Bryan through the middle but his ball was frustratingly just a little too long. It was a nice effort from the midfielder and a pleased David Kerslake responded to the chance with encouraging words for his hard-working team from the touchline.

This was to be the last effort for the Golden Boys as seconds later the whistle for half time was blown and the teams made their way off the pitch.

Seven minutes into the second half, Yiadom saw a great chance to net a goal for the Golden Boys disappear as his low drive just missed to the left of the goal. Bryan's subsequent corner was unlucky to be cleared off the line by the towering Norwich defenders as Watford pushed for the opening goal.

Henderson had a great double chance on 54 minutes, with his header going slightly wide of the left post, followed by another similar effort minutes later.

Norwich replied with a corner which floated into the penalty area from the right as the Watford players struggled to clear the ball. But City failed to take advantage and despite the pressure the chance came to nothing.

On 66 minutes, Gibson made a trademark weave through the area but was pipped at the post thanks to the quick thinking Norwich substitute Damon Lathrope who stopped the ball on the line for his goalkeeper.

Three minutes later, the continued push forwards from the home side paid off as Henderson opened the scoring for the evening.

The striker received the ball well on the right flank and confidently shook off his marker to strike the ball past Norwich goalkeeper Declan Rudd and into the back of the net.  A few minutes later the Hornets goalscorer was replaced by Piero Mingoia.

With 76 minutes of the encounter gone, Josh Dawkin had a chance to equalise for the Canaries but his low driving shot was wide of the right post and the Hornets maintained their lead in the match.

Gibson sailed a great free kick into the area a minute later, but City stopper Rudd got his hand to the ball and punched it away from the danger zone.

Norwich continued to push forwards, the ball settling in Watford's half of the pitch more regularly, but the Hornets marked their opponents well, and denied the East Anglian team their much sought after equaliser.

The tall figure of Lathrope had a go at putting the away team level on 85 minutes as his powerful strike shot through the standing Watford defenders. But North confidently dived the right way and easily caught the ball in his gloves.

The fourth official added three minutes to the game and Norwich refused to give up on scoring as they squeezed a final corner out of the Hornets.

The corner was well defended but as the ball was cleared, it fell to Gordon who blasted the ball towards North's goal but luckily for the Golden Boys the effort was slightly wide of the intended target and the home side were triumphant as the final whistle was blown.

WATFORD: North; Parkes, Oshodi, Bennett, Travner; Bryan, Brooks, Penny (Massey 68), Yiadom; Henderson (Mingoia 72), Gibson. Subs not used: Angus, Bond (gk), Isaac.

SCORER: Henderson (69).

NORWICH: Rudd (GK); Spillane, Francomb, Whitbread (Gordon 39), Berthel Askou (Lathrope 45), Gill, Tudur Jones, Adeyemi, McDonald (Clarke) , Kelly, Dawkin. Subs not used: Steer (GK), Clarke, Drmola.