Solihull Moors 1 King's Lynn 1
10th March 2009
THIS game on Tuesday was the third since Christmas that Lynn have conceded an injury-time equaliser - and this one was the most bizarre and inexplicable.
The Linnets had gone ahead in the 55th minute through Bradley Thomas's back-heeled first league goal of the season, and they looked to be comfortably heading towards a win in the dying moments.
They had a corner, so time to play the game out, right? Well, substitute Greg Crane (returned from a four-match ban) played it short to Scott Mitchell. So far, so good.
But Mitchell, with only Dom Dwyer in the opposition penalty box, for some reason chose to cross it there. Solihull hoofed it clear, it went up to sub James McPike, who scored from 20 yards out into the bottom right corner of Lynn keeper Scott Howie's net.
That's the second time in four days that Lynn conceded a stoppage-time leveller, for their 17th draw of the season - just one off the club record.
Lynn manager Keith Webb and assistant Lee Glover were fuming afterwards: "We've got every right to be angry," said Webb.
"To battle so hard and give it away at the end is absolutely galling.
"There's only one of our players in their box with 90 seconds to go, and to play the ball there... as a manager I can't put my finger on it why we concede late goals. If I could, I'd stop it.
"But I'm not going to slag off players. What's said in the dressing-room stays in the dressing-room.
"Everyone was in disbelief. We just hope to put it right on Saturday.
"If you add up all the points we would have got, if not for all the late goals we've conceded, we're talking play-off positions."
"I was pleased with the performance, especially the front two against two very hard-nosed centre-halves.
"Dominic Dwyer caused them no end of problems with his close control, and Kris Renton put himself about a bit."
The Walks outfit had started well, with Dwyer earning a free-kick in the third minute. Adam Smith swung the ball in, and home keeper Danny Crane palmed the ball behind for a corner.
Kris Renton brought down the Moors' Darren Middleton just outside the Lynn box, and Howie threw himself to tip over Middleton's resulting free-kick.
Smith on the quarter-hour mark squared the ball to Renton, who brought off a save, while soon after Jake Edwards had an effort saved for the Moors.
Lynn skipper Andy Johnson came the closest in an entertaining first half, hitting the outside of the post from 25 yards on 25 minutes.
Dwyer and the hosts' Liam Daly were denied as both keepers ensured it remained scoreless at the break.
In the opening minutes of the second half, Daly and Lynn's Andrew Fisk both had chances.
But Thomas back-heeled the breakthrough after a scramble following a Smith free kick from the right.
Lynn could have made it two with ten minutes to go when a great run from Mitchell led to him laying off to Dwyer, who cleared the bar from just outside the area.
Solihull fielded Jake Sedgemore, brother of ex-Lynn skipper Ben Sedgemore. Solihull: Crane, Sedgemore, Bonner, Downes, Street, Daly, Travis (Price 70), English, Edwards, Rickards (McPike 67), Middleton (Motteram 67). Subs not used: Collins, Rachel.
Booked: Bonner 90mins, dissent. Goal: McPike 90.
Lynn: Howie, Graham, Smith, Peters, Thomas, Camm, Mitchell, Johnson, Dwyer, Renton (Crane 87), Fisk (Kelly 68). Not used: C. Defty, Murray. Goal: Thomas 55.
Referee: J.H. Law (Worcs). Attendance: 164.
Stats, Lynn first: shots on target 4, 4; off target 4, 4; corners 15, 8; offside 2, 5; free-kicks 14, 9.