King's Lynn 2 Chorley 2
9th October 1982
The only thing predictable about Lynn's play in the Northern Premier League is their unpredictability in the closing stages.
On Saturday, not for the first time, a three point win suddenly became a one-point draw.
It probably please the pools coupons punters who had the match marked as a score draw, but for The Walks fans it was another sickener.
Just as Mossley and Burton Albion before them, Chorley found the Linnets susceptible to some last gasp pressure. It was as late as the 88th minute when big central defender Geoff Twentyman headed in his second of the match for the visitors.Lynn had taken the lead in the sixth minute when Brian Thomson and Nolan Keeley set up a chance for Freddie Easthall to get his fifth goal of the season, the Chorley defence at this stage looking completely lost.
This lead to strong pressure from Chorley and in the 16th minute Twentyman was at the far post to get in a powerful header which beat Nick Drewery's dive.
After that it was Chorley who set the pace until the closing stages of the half when Keeley and Gordon Hodgson had shots which were deflected wide.
Lynn were unable to get any grip on the game and had a real let-off when Jim Clayton side-footed a 72nd minute shot past Drewery then turned to see the referee disallowed the effort for offside.
Chorley were probably still feeling aggrieved about that when Gordon Hodgson struck three minutes later. He turned the ball into the goalmouth where both Easthall and Keeley failed to get a touch and keeper John Wood was perhaps unsighted as the centre went past him into the net.
Keeley could have put the issue beyond doubt in the 83rd minute when he moved in to Easthall's cross, but the ball stuck on the line and Wood gratefully made the pick-up.
Chorley then roared forward and as far as they were concerned justice was done when Paul Mason's cross was headed on past Drewery and Twentyman was there for the second header into the net.
Lynn, with Les McJannet having a superb game at full back and Chris Watts a useful stand in for the unfit Richard Johnston, had been hit by a sucker punch.
Lynn: Drewery, McJannet, Watts, Bircumshaw, Wiles, Hodgson, Thompson, Elliott (sub Burrows 89 minutes), Thomson, Easthall, Keeley.
Chorley: Wood, Lees (sub Conroy 78 mins), Knight, Bingham, Twentyman, Lugg, Mather, Mason, McGrail, Cook, Clayton.
Referee: P. Smith (Lincoln)
Attendance: 461