Mangotsfield 1 King's Lynn 3
1st April 2006
The Linnets made sure of a play-off place a month early
following their eighth successive win on Saturday thanks
to strikes from Grant Cooper, Matty Nolan's 12th goal
for the club and Sam McMahon.Lynn need to finish in the top five to at least guarantee a play-off spot (the champions go up automatically to the Conference regional set-up). They now have 73 points from 36 games.
Sixth spot, jointly held by Banbury, Yate and Halesowen, sees the three sides 18 points behind on 37 games – so there is no chance of them overtaking The Walks outfit.
Lynn manager Tommy Taylor said: "The wind was really, really strong against us in the first half.
"The wind dropped which was no extra help to anybody.
"We missed a few sitters, we could have got another three goals.
"Danny Hammond could have chipped the keeper but hit the first man instead; Lee Charles could have shot through instead of going around the keeper; and Matty Nolan was clean through on the way line.
"But we were winning 3-0 at the time. It would have been nice to have clawed back a few goals on the other teams at the top.
Taylor said of the players he rested by taking them off early in the second half: "Jack at half-time said his hamstring twinged a bit. I saw him run after half-time and he made a face, so I thought 'I can't afford to keep him on.
"Matty said his back was ever so stiff. Once we were two up I said that he could come off. Grant Cooper was also feeling his hamstring.
"I got them all off to make sure they were going to be ok for the rest of the season. It's no good keeping them on when you're already winning the game."
Grant Cooper notched the opener for the second game in a row on just two minutes.
Cooper pounced when Dean West's effort was blocked on the line by Matt Cook from an Adam Smith corner.
Lynn weathered a few chances with the wind against them, but the second period went virtually all Lynn's way.
Mark Summers failed to control an awkward high-bouncing ball from Cedric Anselin, and Nolan took advantage to lob over the keeper Danny Greaves.
The home keeper was at fault again for the third goal.
Put under pressure from a back pass, his clearance was woeful and skipper McMahon rounded Greaves to force the ball in from a tight angle and at close range.
Greaves then was injured and was replaced in goal by full-back Summers.
Rob Casey earned a consolation for the 'Field when he scored from an unmarked position at a corner with five minutes remaining.
It sets up a mouth-watering Judgement Night with Salisbury tonight, with perhaps Judgement Day coming on the final day of the season against fellow championship chasers Bath City?
Mangotsfield United: Greaves (Anyinsah 60), Summers, Lock, Cousins, G. Warren, Casey, Wilmott, T. Warren, Claridge, Paul, Lane. Subs not used: Seal, Howells. Goal: Casey (85 minutes).
Lynn: Benstead, West, Smith, McMahon, Cooper (Harvey 58), Camm, Defty (Charles 46), Anselin, Nolan (Hammond 56), Carey, O'Halloran. Not used: Peters, Higgs.
Goals: Cooper (2 mins), Nolan (49), McMahon (56).
Referee: B. Knight (Waterlooville). Attendance: 303