Dorchester Town 3 King's Lynn 4
7th February 1998
TWO-GOAL hero Lee Hudson paid tribute to Lynn's fans after hitting a late winner in another exciting away day for the faithful following.About 40 supporters made the 500 mile round trip to Dorset and were rewarded with a goal blitz that ended the hosts' 1998 unbreached defensive record.
The Magpies had not conceded a league goal since December 20 and had only once let in more than one at the Avenue Stadium this season.
But that record counted for nothing as the Linnets swept into a two-goal lead and then refused to lie down when Dorchester hit back.
But Hudson insisted it was the vociferous away backing which had been the cornerstone for the victory, Lynn's eighth on their travels this season.
"It was fantastic to come all this way and hear that noise from our fans. It was unbelievable even when we were pulled back to 2-2 and that helped spur us on," said Hudson.
It was Hudson who led the congratulations at the end of a goal-laden 90 minutes as the Lynn players went towards the away terracing to show their appreciation. "If they've come all this way to support us they deserve our applause. I would have jumped in with them at the end but by then I was too tired to make it" he joked.
"I don't know any other supporters in this league who come close to ours," added Hudson who was at the centre of controversy after hitting the 83rd-rninute match winner.
Colin Hoyle's through ball was being shepherded back by defender Toby Redwood to his keeper Kevin Maloy when Hudson barged his way through to score.
But Hudson was adamant he had not fouled the defender, despite lengthy protests to the match officials by four home players and manager, Stuart Morgan.
"I thought it was shoulder to shoulder. Their player tried to knock it back and I went in with him," explained Hudson.
"He missed his kick and the keeper hit the ball against me. The rebound fell for me and I just knocked it in.
Most would have given it up as a lost cause but not Lee."
"I would have been disappointed if it had been disallowed," he added. Hudson's strike completed a battling display from the Linnets as they clocked up their fourth consecutive win and the second in a row they have hit four goals Lynn withstood early home pressure to storm into a two goal lead within 17 minutes. Simon Mead's through ball released Steve Williams and the striker, back from suspension, needed no second invitation to smoothly guide the ball into the net. Mead came close to adding a second when Martin Matthews picked him out but the midfielder's point-blank effort was blocked by Maloy.
Mead did not have long to wait to register his first league goal though. From the resulting corner Jason Pascoe flicked on Matthews' kick and Mead headed powerfully home.
But then it was Williams' turn to take centre stage for all the wrong reasons. First he committed a needless foul by pulling back Andy Harris. That earned him his ninth yellow card of the season but, even worse, he was then caught in no-man's land and headed the free kick into his own net.
Tommy Killick blasted in the equaliser four minutes before the break but Lynn were back ahead after 62 minutes.
Kevin Ellis fired through an immaculate cross-field ball to release Hudson and he burst between two defenders before flicking the ball into the net via Maloy's outstretched foot.
Williams should have made sure of the points seven minutes later when Mead drilled the ball across goal but, with the net gaping, Williams was unable to stretch far enough.
That looked costly when Harris glanced a header past Hollman to make it 3-3. But then Hudson made sure of a joyful trip back to Norfolk when he hit the winner.
Manager Peter Morris was delighted with the victory and paid tribute to his strike force.
"Steve Williams made the difference to us. He holds the ball up so well. Lee's running brought the goals and Craig Hopkins showed precision and a touch that you don't see at this level.
And Morris was quick to praise Hudson for the winner, "Not that many players would have gone for the ball like that.
Lynn: Hollman, Matthews, Cotterill, Hoyle, Ellis, Spearing, Pascoe, Hopkins, Williams (G Roberts 86), Hudson. Subs (not used) Delicata, D Roberts.
Dorchester: Maloy, Sullivan, Redwood, Coates. Lisk, R Cross (Harris 17), J Cross, O'Brien, Killick, Shepherd, Myers (Lovell 71). Sub (not used) Legg.
| MATCH STATISTICS | Shots on Target | Shots off Target | Corners | Caught Offside | Free kicks Conceded |
Bookings |
| Lynn | 7 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 11 | Williams (foul, 24) |
| Dorchester | 8 | 4 | 11 | 7 | 20 | Redwood (foul, 59) |