CARDIFF, Wales (CMC):
JAMAICA INTERNATIONAL Marlon King celebrated promotion to
the 2006-07 English Premiership with Watford FC yesterday when they whipped
Leeds 3-0 in the Coca-Cola League Championship playoff final.
King, the league's leading scorer this season with a whopping 22 goals, did not make the scoring headlines this time but goals from Jay DeMerit, a Neil Sullivan own goal, and Darius Henderson sunk Leeds in the important final at the Millennium Stadium. A stadium crowd of 64,736 watched the game.
Watford went in front through American defender DeMerit's powerful close-ranger header - from Ashley Young's corner - in the 25th minute.
It became 2-0 to Watford in the 57th minute when James Chambers enjoyed a lucky deflection off Eddie Lewis before the ball hit the post and went in off Sullivan. And Darius Henderson sealed the win with an 84th minute penalty after Shaun Derry tripped King in the box.
Henderson had played through a neat pass for King, who made room for himself inside the box and as he shaped to rifle a shot at goal, Derry took his legs away with a clumsy challenge.
King's prolific scoring helped Watford to a third place finish in the table, behind winners Reading and the second placed Sheffield United who both gained automatic promotion.
