King's Lynn 2 Coalville Town 3
2nd April 2011
JOINT King's Lynn. Town boss Gary Setchell has urged his side to concentrate on winning the league after seeing them falter at the final hurdle on the road to Wembley.
Despite a brief second half comeback, Town's FA Vase dream was comprehensively shattered by Coalville Town, who finally ended Town's 100 per cent home record with this victory at The Walks. The Leicestershire minnows were by far the better side over the two legs and deserved their place at the home of football.
Despite being bitterly disappointed at his side's exit, Setchell led the rallying call for his side to try and win the United Counties League crown.
Setchell said: "Our main priority this season was trying to win the league and that's what we've got to focus on now.
"It will be hard to pick the players up, but getting out of
the United Counties League has always been our ultimate aim and however you look at it, it has been a fantastic first season as a club.
"It doesn't mean much at the moment, but we should be proud of what we've achieved in this season's FA Vase. "Looking back at it I think this is as far as we could have got in the competition but it has been a great experience and one both Kevin (Boon) and myself will learn from. "The long and short of it was that Coalville were better
than us over both legs. It was men against boys at times out there."
Callum Woodward and Jerome Murdock did the unthinkable by putting Coalville 5-0 up on aggregate in a dominant first half.
But FA Vase specialist Robbie Harris struck twice in a minute just prior to the hour- mark to revive hopes of an unlikely comeback.
Lynn still needed three goals in the final 30 minutes to force extra-time in a feisty last-four encounter, which
will best be remembered for the .ugly scenes off the pitch rather than the entertainment on it.
But Ross Watson's late dismissal for picking up two yellow cards in the space of a few minutes ended the Linnets' fightback 'and Ravens top scorer Matt Gardner came off the bench to rub salt in their wounds by scoring a winner. Coalville celebrated their triumph for several minutes, but for Lynn, there was no joy
Absolutely nothing but disappointment.
Their FA Vase dream in tatters, Linnets' players were crestfallen and they dejectedly headed for the dressing room like a wounded boxer, eventually worn down by the champ.
King's Lynn: Street, Bexfield (Bacon 56), Alsop, McNeil, Watson, L Thurlbourne, White (Doherty 56), Spriggs, J Thurlbourne, Defty, Harris. Subs (not used): Buhlemann, C Defty, Hails.
Bookings: Spriggs, Watson. Sending off: Watson
Goals: Harris (57, 59)
Coalville: Bowles, Everitt, Brown, Goodby, Costello, Miveld, Woodward, Wells (Attwood 90), Moore, Murdock (Gardner 62), Robbins (Carney 45). Subs (not used): Stuart, Williams. Bookings: Murdock, Robins, Wells, Miveld, Moore.
Goals: Woodward (6), Murdock (30), Gardner (70).
Referee: D Whitestone (Northants). Attendance: 2,354.