King's Lynn 1 Histon 0
12th April 2004
THE Linnets rekindled their title dreams by completing a crucial double over one of their main promotion rivals thanks to Jack Defty's 14th goal of the campaign.A bumper crowd of 1,617 - Lynn's biggest league gate of the season - yesterday saw Defty's 28th minute strike separate the sides following an edge-of-your-seat derby encounter.
All seemed lost for The Walks outfit following their weekend defeat, but they now leapfrog a point above Histon, and the title race now looks as if it will go down to the wire.
Both sides have a game in hand over leaders Tonbridge, who were a point ahead of Histon before yesterday.
Lynn made one change from the side which started at Dartford, with Chris Bacon replacing Robbie Harris.
Histon left leading scorer Neil Kennedy on the bench and opted to start early season Lynn transfer target James Rowe.
In the sixth minute Lynn keeper Steve Wilson had to be alert to clear an underhit back pass from Adam Jones in a tense first few minutes.
The hosts enjoyed the bulk of possession in the opening exchanges but only had two Lee Stevenson free-kicks, which were comfortably dealt with by the Histon rearguard, to show for their efforts.
The first attempt on target by either side saw Lynn take the lead in the 28th minute when Mark Camm's deflected shot fell kindly to Defty, who smashed in the far post.
Histon immediately broke upfield and Wayne Goddard's centre flashed across the face of goal, inches from the foot of the waiting Rowe.
Eight minutes before the interval Defty tried his luck from 20 yards, but his shot was always drifting wide of Barber's right-hand post.
A short corner caused Lynn's defence some brief concern moments later before Bacon picked up the loose ball and sprinted almost the full length of the pitch, only to be denied by a last-gasp tackle from Matthew Haniver.
In first half injury time Glen Fuff was on the end of a crude tackle by Rowe, with the Histon frontman being the first name in the book.
Five minutes after the restart Defty's dipping cross had Barber at full strength to keep the ball out.
Histon did have the ball in the net in the 56th minute through Jamie Barker, but the assistant referee flagged for offside.
Sub Harris forced Roscoe Hipperson into an error seconds later but Barber was on hand to save his defender's blushes with a save to his left.
The visitors pinned Lynn back in their own half for a ten-minute spell and in the 61st minute Wilson turned Goddard's header over the bar with the merest of fingertips.
Histon continued to surge forward at every opportunity and Lynn at times had to rely on some desperate defending to hold on to their advantage.
Eight minutes from time Harris saw his powerful drive miraculously saved by Barber.
Lynn: Wilson, Jones, Hammond, Burrows (Defty C 28), Fuff, Stevenson, Defty J (Fishlock 59), Holmes, Bacon (Harris 45), Watkins, Camm. Subs not used: Woodrow, Nobes. Booking: Watkins. Goal: Defty (28)
Histon: Barber, Farrington, Haniver (Mintus 81), Hipperson, Vowden, A Cambridge (Coburn 66), Goddard, Andrews, Rowe (Kennedy 60), I Cambridge, Barker. Subs not used: Holdon, Munns. Booking: Rowe,
Referee: G Ketts (Norwich). Attendance: 1,617.
| FACT file | Shots on Target | Shots off Target | Corners | Caught Offside | Free kicks Conceded |
Bookings |
| Lynn | 5 | 2 | 6 | 3 | 10 | Watkins (dissent 72) |
| Histon | 3 | 2 | 7 | 7 | 12 | Rowe (foul 45) |