Mangotsfield 1 King's Lynn 0
4th Deember 2007
WITH a last-gasp goal, the Linnets were knocked off the top of the table at the Cossham Street Arena on Tuesday after being beaten for the first time by Mangotsfield.
A bruising long away trip in December (where did the Southern League come up with that one) to play a robust team, on a rain-sodden pitch in gale force winds, was a "big ask".
On ten minutes Joe Francis received a bang in the face, resulting in a prolonged nose bleed and, after lengthy pitchside treatment, was replaced by John Turner.
Mangotsfield continued to press and Howie had to react smartly to turn a Ronnie Mowatt shot over the bar.
In the middle of the half Lynn began to gain some degree of control and from one of the numerous free-kicks conceded by Mangotsfield, Defty nodded down to Andrew Fisk who from ten yards out failed to make clean contact.
A few minutes later from a right wing corner taken by Greg Lake, Defty headed narrowly over. Two good chances against a defence who concede very few goals.
Lynn went in level having survived some play which was progressively more appropriate to the Bristol rugby ground a mile to two away, as Morrissey was taken off before he was sent off.
The second half began with Lynn kicking into an increasingly blustery wind.
At one point Fisk was lying injured on the halfway line while John Turner was similarly prone on the edge of the area.
Home keeper John Rendell saved at Turner's feet.
On 70 minutes a mistake on the Lynn left let in Griffin who hit the post with a shot across goal.
Then in injury time, with Greg Lake already in control of the situation, Greg Crane committed a needless foul.
Jack Allwood, having moved the ball some yards in from the the spot where the offence took place, found an ideal location from which to take a wind assisted, in swinging free-kick which gave Scott Howie no chance. Mangotsfield: Rendell, Arndale, Allward, Thorne, Milsom, French, Wilmot, Mowatt, Griffin, Ballinger, Morrissey (Douglas 44). Subs not used: Kilgour, Crew, Stewart, Criddle. Booked: Morrissey, Thorne, Milsom.
Lynn: Howie, West, Lake, Warren, Crane, Camm, Buhlemann (Mulryne 74), Fisk, J. Defty, Bloomfield (Nolan 54), Francis (Turner 10). Not used: Frew, Murray. Booked: Crane (90).
Referee: I. Hamilton (Cheltenham). Att: 178.