King's Lynn 5 Yate Town 0
8th March 2008
THE Linnets played a starring role in Saturday's home hammering of Yate in front of the Lynn News video camera as they stretched their lead at the top of the table.
Goals from Joe Francis (2), Matt Nolan – given a surprise recall to the starting XI – Jack Defty and Greg Crane secured the points.
Rivals Team Bath continue to slip up, losing 2-1 at Hitchin, so Lynn increased their advantage to three points at the top.
A blistering three-goal start meant the game was all but over after the first 25 minutes.
Linnets boss Keith Webb said: "It was the response I was looking for. It was a complete all-round performance, particularly in the first half.
"We scored some good goals. We never gave them anything until, I think, their first chance was in the 84th minute.
"It was a positive reaction from Matt Nolan. I didn't tell him he was starting until Saturday. After a midweek chat I gave him the opportunity to do what he can do.
"Matt's inclusion no doubt raised a few eyebrows. Danny Bloomfield had only scored one in eight games.
"At half-time I didn't want anyone to slacken off and I wanted to win the second half.
"The title situation is in our hands now. But we want to stress to the players how important the next two away games are. This result has now been and gone.
"We'll get them in on Thursday, sharpen them up and wrap them in cotton wool."
Yate had the first chance of the game, Aaron Blakemore "shinning" the ball wide.
Lynn took the lead just three minutes later, Joe Francis in-swinging corner met by a power header by Jack Defty from around the penalty spot into the roof of the net.
As Lynn continued to take the game to the visitors, Francis doubled the advantage with a fine curling free-kick, after a foul on Defty, that had away keeper Tony Court rooted to his line, watching the ball into his top right-hand corner.
A hoofed defensive clearance from Gavin Hoyte fell perfectly for Matt Nolan to run onto and coolly round the keeper to score, and make it three after just 23 minutes.
Court had to punch clear from Nolan, while John Turner – having an excellent game in an unfamiliar position on the right – beat three players, and only a desperate clearance denied Lynn a scoring opportunity.
Ben Sedgemore volleyed inches wide after a superb team move, while Scott Howie did well to deny Blakemore a chance and keep a clean sheet.
Just 60 seconds into the second half Crane fired home a deflected shot from a Francis corner, while mere minutes later Turner hit the top of the bar with a cross.
Sub Michael Frew's first slice of the action was to feed Nolan, whose pull-back was handled by Adam Sims.
The referee had no hesitation in pointing to the spot, and Francis calmly slotted home the penalty in Court's left-hand corner to complete the scoring as Lynn completed their first double over Yate.
Yate missed a couple more half-chances, but Sims wasted their best opportunity, blazing over from six yards in the last five minutes.
Lynn: Howie, Bains, Chapman, Hoyte, Crane, Camm, Turner (Frew 71), Sedgemore (Fisk 78), J. Defty (Bloomfield 76), Nolan, Francis. Subs: West, Murray. Goals: Defty 7, Francis 15, 73, Nolan 23, Crane 46. Booked: Nolan 11.
Yate: Court, Williams, Vahid, Taylor, Jefferies (Brice 50), Sims, Blakemore, Chenoweth (Davidge 67), O'Sullivan, Anyinsah (Waters h-t), Whittington. Not used: Thompson, Smyth. Booked: Whittington 44.
Referee: N. Field (Northants). Att: 977. MoM: John Turner.
Stats, Lynn first: shots on target 7, 1; off target 9, 3; corners 8, 1; offside 2, 2; free-kicks 10, 16.