King's Lynn 1 Cambridge City 1
1st April 2002
Despite another Andrew Stanhope goal, the Linnets' survival hopes were yesterday dealt a blow when local relegation rivals Cambridge levelled in the second half.
Lynn showed a big improvement on some of their recent home displays, but still looked a side devoid of confidence in and around the box.
Saturday's defeat was Lynn's fifth league game without a win and had dropped them into the relegation zone for the first time this season.
In the first half, it looked as though midfielder Stanhope had reversed that dip with his second goal in two games since returning to The Walks.
Defender Craig Clark was recalled from his loan spell at Arnold Town to replace ankle injury victim Simon Dakin.
A minute's silence before the match was observed in memory of the Queen Mother, who died at the weekend.
Cambridge were the first to threaten in the seventh minute when former Wycombe FA Cup hero Roy Essandoh sprinted clear of the Lynn defence only to blast his final effort over the bar.
Five minutes later Paul Raynor's corner was flicked on by skipper Glen Fuff into the path of Lee Hudson, whose header was helped on to the bar by City keeper Martin Davies.
Both sides looked tentative with such a lot at stake, and defences were generally on top in a scrappy opening 35 minutes.
Raynor picked up his customary booking after needlessly catching Kevin Wilkin with his arm in the 38th minute.
Lynn's appeals for a penalty were waved away by the referee in the 43rd minute when the combination of Steve Holden and Davies appeared to bring down Hudson after a pinpoint centre from Jamie March.
On the stroke of half-time, Hudson charged down a Tim Wooding clearance and raced towards the City goal before being brought down by Wenlock, who was subsequently booked.
The home crowd's anger at not seeing Wenlock sent off for a professional foul was short-lived when Davies spilled the resulting Raynor free-kick, and Stanhope slotted home at the far post.
City sub Leon Gutzmore came within inches of heading an equaliser with his first touch of the game on the hour following a corner from former Linnet Richard Skelly.
The hard-working Hudson saw his drive whistle past the post before the visitors eventually levelled in the 63rd minute when ex-Wisbech player Adam Wilde punished some sloppy home defending when his shot went in off the post.
Debutant David Staff had a solid game at the back, as did Clark. Stanhope shone in the middle of the park.
Lynn: Wilson, Dakin, March (Clarke 82), Staff, Fuff, Welsh, Stanhope, Raynor, Hudson (Watts 69), McNamara, Hayes. Sub not used: Anderson.
Cambridge: Davies, Wooding, Skelly, Holden, Vowden, Beall, Nightingale, Wenlock, Wilkin (Hann 78), Essandoh (Gutzmore 53), Wilde. Sub not used: Sturgess.
| MATCH STATISTICS | Shots on Target | Shots off Target | Corners | Caught Offside | Free kicks Conceded |
Bookings |
| Lynn | 4 | 3 | 7 | 2 | 12 | Raynor (38 raised arm) |
| Cambridge | 2 | 4 | 6 | 3 | 14 | Wenlock (45 professional foul) |