King's Lynn 6 Hemel Hempstead 3
4th December 2004
LOCAL midfielder Jack Defty bagged his first-ever Linnets hat-trick as both he and forward Danny Bloomfield continued their recent scoring exploits.
Defty took his tally to six goals in four games with his first treble since junior football, while Bloomfield extended his to seven in five as Lynn took the honours in this festive nine goal feast.
In fact, The Walks is currently the place to be for entertainment and value for money with no fewer than 24 goals being shared out in Lynn's last four home matches.
A delighted Defty, who claimed the match ball and had it signed by all of his team-mates, said: "I hadn't scored until four games ago and it's nice to be back among the goals.
"I feel a lot fitter than I did a month ago and Tommy has encouraged me to keep getting in the box as much as possible.
"'Tommy has worked us really hard since his arrival and that has had a positive effect on the team."
After the match Linnets boss Tommy Taylor said: "We are playing. a lot better but still letting in silly goals.
I never thought it was going to be Rugby all over again, because we scored our fourth not long after they had got back into it.
"We have to be disappointed at conceding three goals. The lads need to be a lot more switched on when the ball is over the other side of the pitch.
"We had a mad period at the start of the second half instead of continuing with the passing game that had cut them to pieces."
The goal rush began in the third minute when David Staff opened the scoring with one of his trademark free-kicks.
Three minutes later Defty rose above a poor Hamel rearguard to power home a Staff corner.
Supporters were already getting out their calculators when Defty cut open the Hemel defence for Bloomfield to slot home the third in the 15th minute.
Bloomfield had an effort ruled out for offside, while Carl Holmes, Defty (twice) and Staff (twice) all had good opportunities to put Lynn further out of reach.
A controversial penalty tucked away by Bryan Hammatt saw Hemel make it 3-1 six minutes after the restart, but less than eight minutes later Lynn had restored their three-goal advantage when Defty drilled home a Mark Angel centre.
Hemel gave themselves hope by adding a second when Marcelle Bruce reacted first to a Dean Harding dig which had come back off Steve Wilson's post.
Bloomfield was foiled by the busy David Lovell between the Hemel posts before Defty completed his treble by nudging in a Danny Hammond knock back from a Mark Camm cross.
Twelve minutes from the end a scintillating move saw
Angel and Staff exchange passes before Angel waltzed
past 4 defenders and smashed a shot, which went in
off the post, for his first as long-awaited goal in Lynn
colours.
The goal avalanche was completed with undoubtedly the goal of the game in the 87th minute when Paul Kelly unleashed a 30-yard thunderbolt which left Wilson with no chance.
Lynn: Wilson, Jones, Setchell, Matthews (J. Wilson 60), Hammond, Camm, Defty (Bacon 89), Holmes (Fishlock 49), Staff, Bloomfield, Angel. Subs not used: Chick and McAnally.
Hemel Hempstead: D. Lovell, T Neil, M. Bruce (S. Deaton 78), N. Leach, D. West, F Kelly, D. Harding, L. Allen, A. Petrou (J. Bent 83), B. Hammatt, G. Fowler (N. Jackson 45).
Referee: Mr R Stanton (Lincs).
Attendance: 751.
| FACTfile | Shots on Target | Shots off Target | Corners | Caught Offside | Free kicks Conceded |
| Lynn | 12 | 4 | 7 | 2 | 16 |
| Hemel Hempstead | 6 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 11 |
| Lynn News Man of the Match - Jack Defty | |||||