King's Lynn 2 Droylsden 1
7th September 2013
Striker Rob Duffy made himself an instant hero with Linnets fans after coming off the bench to notch the winner against Droylsden at The Walks.
The former Grimsby Town and Lincoln City scored inside 30 seconds of his debut with his second touch as Lynn made hard work of beating the Bloods.
Duffy, who hadn't played a competitive game for more than a year, took the ball down with his knee to bamboozle Dale Latham and his defence before firing the ball into an empty net.
It capped a memorable start for the big frontman after Dylan Moloney had cancelled out Phil Gulliver's headed opener for the hosts.
Chances were few-and-far between in a dour first 45 minutes, which hardly lived up to its Non-league Day billing.
The best opportunity came prior to the interval when Droylsden's Luke McCarthy rounded Lynn goalkeeper Danny Gay and sidefooted the ball towards the goal before Jordan Yong raced back to clear off his own line.
Droylsden had a second effort hacked off the line - this time Andy Hall saved the day from Andy Langford - early in the second period.
Lynn took the lead just minutes later when George Thomson's perfect delivery was bravely headed home by Gulliver.
Home substitute Shane Tolley then saw his effort come back off the bar.
Droylsden were level less than a minute later when Moloney dashed into the box and bent the ball past Gay.
The frustrations of the home faithful began to grow until Duffy arrived right on cue.
Lynn: Gay, R. Clarke, Gulliver, Lee, Yong, Spriggs (Jacob 46), Bunting, Quigley, Thomson, Hall (Duffy 69), Mulready (Tolley 31). Subs not used: Fernandes, Butt.
Booked: Bunting, Lee.
Goals: Gulliver (55), Duffy (70).
Droylsden: Latham, Grant (Hibbert 64), Rouse-Edmundson, Langford, Firmino, Holden, McCarthy (Slaven, 71), Killeen, Rouse, Silveiro (Moloney 17), Ward. Subs not used: Clarkson, Kinsella.
Booked: Rouse, Moloney.
Goal: Moloney (68).
Referee: N. Smith. Attendance: 677.