King's Lynn 5 Fleet Town 0
8th February 2003
FURTHER proof that David Staff's lethal, right foot should be wrapped in cotton wool was him notching a hat-trick as the Linnets moved up to their highest position so far this season of sixth.After a quiet first ten minutes and apart from a few isolated moments, Lynn bossed the game.
They were 3-0 up at half time thanks to two more quality Staff strikes in two minutes, and there was only going to be one winner from there.
Staff (from 40 yards, which away keeper Darren Farmer just managed to back-pedal and tip over) and Jack Defty both went close from long range before a ten-minute spell when.. Fleet could not get out of their half.
At the start of this period Chris Bacon opened the scoring, volleying home from a six yards a flick-on by Defty from a Paul Raynor corner.
The visitors' best chance of the first half came when Steve Wilson, making his return to The Walks on loan, saved low from Shea Saunders.
Wilson had a comfortable comeback, having little to deal with.
Carl Holmes had an effort cleared off the line, but immediately another perfect Staff strike rocketed in off the inside of the post from 20-plus yards. Staff followed this with a piece of `showboating' on the left against former England winger Mark Chamberlain.
Staff turned the veteran inside-out before cutting in and firing home at the near post.
Adam Weston and Bacon went close before the break, then just afterwards Staff spooned over a golden opportunity from six yards.
Mark Burrows had a 'goal' disallowed following a free-kick, and it was a case of when, not if, Lynn would score again.
This they did when Mr Bird awarded a penalty for a push, which enabled Staff to confidently complete his hat trick from the spot-kick.
Outstanding skipper Glen Fuff, who with centre-back partner Burrows had a good day, surged forward forcefully to inspire his troops.
Holmes, now getting back to full fitness, went close with a header from Lee Cowling's free-kick.
Stephen Harvey's final contribution before being rested was a deep centre which Holmes did better with by looping another header over the keeper.
Lynn: Wilson, Harvey (Jones 81), Cowling, Burrows, Fuff, Defty, Weston, Raynor (Blake 73), Bacon (Watts 73), Staff, Holmes. Subs not used:. Blois, Nobes.
Fleet: D. Farmer, M. Chamberlain, I. Garrett, J. Murphy, W. Noad, S. Black, Shea Saunders (R. Craig 37 - A. Moore 55), Steele Saunders, P. Wetherall, M. Frampton, A. Morrow. Not used: A. Aymes.
Att: 667. Referee: R. Bird (Norwich).
| MATCH STATISTICS | Shots on Target | Shots off Target | Corners | Caught Offside | Free kicks Conceded |
Bookings |
| Lynn | 12 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 22 | Raynor (52, foul) Defty (79, foul) |
| Fleet | 2 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 16 | Chamberlain (63, foul) |
Report by permission of the Lynn News