Gloucester City 3 King's Lynn 0
7th April 1979
THE LINNETS again displayed their lack of consistency when going down at Gloucester on Saturday. "We are competitive enough, but we seem unable to keep our game together over any period," said team
boss Keith Rudd afterwards.We did not play up to our form and I told the lads that it was disgraceful we should lose by three goals to such an ordinary side."
But one player who got a ten star rating from Rudd was skipper Mick Wright.
"He was immaculate. It seemed he was involved in everything we did in defence. mid-field and support up front."
Wright and his fellow defenders were under a fair amount of pressure in the early stages and two shots by Griffin whistled past the woodwork. With his third effort Griffin gave Gloucester a 20th minute lead
Phil Ringwood went out to a long corner by Eves and was beaten by Northover who headed down to Griffin who snapped up the chance.
More shots rained in on the Lynn goal, but somehow they survived and were probably waiting for the interval when Gloucester struck with their second in the 41st minute.
This time Northover passed to Paterson who cracked in a twenty-yarder.
In the opening minute of the second half Lynn were robbed of what looked a perfectly good goal. From a planned free-kick move. Wright headed powerfully into the net and the referee, who seemed to be in line, at first apparently allowed it. But the linesman's flag was up. perhaps against Adams who had followed the ball in. and the Lynn joy was cut short.
Lynn were well on top in the second half yet did not look strong enough in the City penalty area. Duncan Wiles, drafted into the side at short notice when Gary Rider went down with flu,. did not look fully fit and he went off in the second half. Adams joined Rudd up front with Wright in midfield and Saywood settling down in defence.
Adams had a header just over and Nicholls in .the City goal saved a hard shot from Rudd.
The final blow came when Griffin finished off an 97th minute move to complete it for Gloucester and give the scoreline an unfair edge.
Gloucester: Nicholls. Hall. Bell. G. Mockridge. D. Mockridge, Turner, Eves, Paterson, Northover, Griffin, Bruton. Sub Hill.
Lynn: Ringwood, Britton, Johnston, Wright, Venemore, McManus, Adams, Goose, Watts, Wiles (sub Saywood), Rudd.
Referee: Mr I. W. Gumbleton.