Corinthian Casuals 0 King's Lynn 2
4th October 2003
THE Linnets have made their best-ever away start to a season after booking a home tie with Thame on November 1.The side has managed five wins and two draws on its travels so far, but their second half display against the Ryman League Division One South strugglers was their poorest for some time.
Corinthians are an amateur side with a proud history, but it was Lynn who looked frequently amateurish, and they have keeper Steve Wilson to thank for preventing a replay.
Two early strikes from Robbie Harris and David Staff his fifth in as many games had promised a goal avalanche.
But perhaps it was a case of `after the Lord Mayor's show' for The Walks outfit after their brave FA Cup exploits against Worksop last week.
The visitors got off to a perfect start after just 90 seconds. Jamie March, back in the side after being FA Cup-tied, played the ball to Staff on the left, His cross would have easily been gathered by home keeper Chris Roberts, but defender Simon Shergold chested it down instead.
The alert Harris nipped in and smashed the ball home for his eighth goal of the season.
For the second game running Lynn's right-back Chris Glarvey cleared off the line from Danny Arkwright's header at a corner.
That was the last we saw of Corinthian as an attacking force for some time as Staff and Carl Holmes went close.
However, on 21 minutes Lynn doubled their lead.
Paul Raynor was felled a couple of yards outside the Casuals' box, and Staff chipped another superb free-kick over the wall and into the net.
The travelling fans expected to see more of the same as Holmes' header brought off a good save, and Dave Roberts headed off the line from Chris Bacon.
But after 35 minutes the Linnets' efforts petered out, while the underdogs caused problems with their big lads at set-pieces.
The unmarked Chris Morrison missed a sitter and Wilson palmed away a long-range Tony Blunt shot to begin his heroics.
In the second half Wilson produced good diving saves from lain Waghorn and Morrison following mix-ups in the visiting defence, as well as denying John Eldridge.
Lynn's best opportunity fell on 75 minutes to Harris, who after being put through by Bacon on a one-on-one situation, was denied by Chris Roberts' block.
Earlier Staff had blazed over, and Holmes and Richard Woodrow directed headers off target.
Other than Wilson, Lynn's only other bright spot of the afternoon was the late appearance of 16-year-old Mark Heath-Preston, who didn't look out of place during his short stint on the pitch
Lynn: Wilson, Glarvey (Harvey 70), March; Burrows, Fuff, Holmes, Staff, Raynor, Bacon, Harris (Heath-Preston 85), Woodrow. Subs not Used: Ndekwe, Nobes.
Casuals: Chris Roberts, Dave Roberts, Brown, Arkwright, Gibbons, Blunt (Georgiou 85), Shergold, Cartwright, Morrison (Hyland 85), Waghorn, Eldridge. Not used: Jupp, Lyward.
Referee: Mr P Valentino (Bexley Heath). Att: 100.
| MATCH STATISTICS | Shots on Target | Shots off Target | Corners | Caught Offside | Free kicks Conceded |
Bookings |
| Lynn | 6 | 5 | 7 | 3 | 12 | |
| Corinthians | 5 | 3 | 6 | 5 | 16 | Cartwright (21, foul) Waghorn (85, dissent) |