MARLON KING scored his first goal of the season from open play as Watford produced a classic away performance at Glanford Park this afternoon (Saturday).

Resolute in defence and striking ruthlessly on the counter-attack, the Hornets chalked up their seventh win of the campaign thanks to Adam Johnson's third in four games, Darius Henderson's seventh of the season and a welcome strike from Marlon King, who will be hoping his effort will be the catalyst to spark his mis-firing season.

Scunthrope had levelled through Jonathan Forte but Watford sealed the points with two goals in the space of three devastating second-half minutes.

The only downside in an otherwise perfect afternoon for Aidy Boothroyd was the 74th-minute dismissal of Lee Williamson for a two-footed lunge on Jim Goodwin.

Despite the blow of losing keeper Mart Poom to a back injury, Watford produced another high-octane start and forced a save from Joe Murphy as early as the second minute. A quick-free from Williamson found Tommy Smith in space 20 yards from goal, and the winger let fly with a low right-footed drive that forced the Scunthorpe number one into a save low to his left.

The visitors continued to play with a high tempo and the early goal the manager craves arrived on ten minutes. An excellent piece of play down the right from Lloyd Doyley culminated in the full-back delivering a near-post cross that picked out the run across goal of Johnson, who headed the ball into the roof of the net and then headed to the corner flag to celebrate his third goal in Watford colours.

Smith, on the opposite wing, was in the thick of the early action and he combined with Williamson from a quick free-kick to set up a shooting opportunity for the former Rotherham midfielder that cannoned into the flying block of Andy Crosby.

The home fans had been silenced by Watford's dominant start but they were out of their seats on 17 minutes, calling for Henderson to be sent off after a challenge with the arm that floored Goodwin. Henderson, the leading scorer, was only shown a yellow card by referee Eddie Ilderton, much to the relief of the 1,301 away supporters.

That appeared to rouse the home side and they were level three minutes later. Cleveland Taylor was afforded too much space down the right by Jordan Stewart and he delivered a low cross that Forte met just before Jay DeMerit and Lee and toe-poked home.

The remainder of the half was something of an attritional, error-ridden affair with Johnson, inevitably, providing any moments of genuine quality. Indeed, it was an exquisite nutmeg from the on-loan winger in first-half injury-time that set up a chance for King. However, the striker could not convert the best move of the half into a goal, curling just wide of the right-hand upright.

Watford were the first team out of the tunnel after half-time and their eagerness was reflected in the opening five minutes of the second-half as they once again opened up on the front foot. However, it was Scunthorpe who registered the first attempt on goal of the half; Forte heading wide from a Taylor cross.

Boothroyd came down from his seat in the gantry after 55 minutes and during a break in play he advised Henderson to keep his cool. Having already been booked, the strapping target man was aggrieved at the referee's failure to award him a free-kick and he was still raging minutes later when he shoved Kelly Youga into the advertising boards.

The chat clearly re-focused Henderson as on the hour the striker continued his fairytale start to the campaign. A deep cross from Stewart dropped over the head of Youga and fell perfectly for Smith. The winger took one touch before firing in a shot from six yards out that Murphy did well to parry. However, Henderson was on hand to convert right-footed from close range.

Just three minutes later the Hornets had established a two-goal cushion. A through ball from Doyley picked out the run of King who out-stripped his marker, surged towards goal from the right before firing under the Murphy from 12 yards out.

The security of a third goal came in handy for the Hornets as they were forced to play the last 16 minutes without Williamson after he was sent off for a two-footed lunge on Goodwin.

Boothroyd responded immediately to the sending off by introducing John Joe O'Toole in a bid to fortify the midfield. Henderson was the man sacrificed and he received another rousing reception from the Watford fans.

With King and then his replacement, Tamas Priskin, deployed as a lone striker, it was always going to be backs-to-the-wall for the visitors and they suffered a scare on 78 minutes when Martin Paterson hit the inside of the post.

Apart from that hairy moment, Watford managed to hold out with relative ease to cement their position at the top of the table.

Scunthorpe: Murphy; Byrne, Crosby, Butler, Youga; Taylor, Goodwin, Sparrow, Hurst; Forte Paterson. Subs: Hayes for Taylor, 68. May for Forte, 78; Cork for Byrne, 86. Iriekpen and Lillis not used.

Watford: Lee; Doyley, Shittu, DeMerit, Stewart; Smith, Mahon, Williamson; King, Henderson. Subs: McAnuff for Johnson, 70; O'Toole for Henderson, 75. Priskin for King, 81. Mariappa and Ellington not used.

Bookings: Henderson, 17, Forte, 32, Byrne, 45, Smith, 50, O'Toole, 80, Crosby, 88.

Dismissal: Williamson (74).

Ref: E Ilderton.

Att: 7,515.