King's Lynn 3 Cambridge United 2
12th July 2008
POACHER supreme Danny Bloomfield staked his claim for a regular first team starting place with a late double against the U's.
Bloomfield climbed off the bench to punish two defensive errors by Lynn's Blue Square Premier visitors.
Linnets boss Keith Webb said: "Today showed that we're not too far off.
"Cambridge are full time so let's not kid ourselves, they had that extra bit of sharpness, but I thought we hung in and played well.
"It was a good workout and a lot better than the first game. I asked them to step it up a level and I think they did.
"We played some nice football. Jack (Defty) and Julian (Joachim) have the makings of a nice partnership.
"But Danny came on, gets three chances and scores two goals.
"I thought the two lads in the centre of the park did well and Frewy put in some telling passes when we pushed him up front."
Webb started with six of his squad who clinched the Southern League, Premier Division title at Merthyr, but didn't risk ex-U's defender Mark Peters, who picked up a slight groin strain at S and L Corby two days earlier.
Former Linnet loan defender Gavin Hoyte started for last season's losing Blue Square Premier play-off finalists and had Jack Defty in his pocket for most of the first 45 minutes.
Lynn got off to the best possible start when defender Simon Weaver marked his Walks debut with a goal after six minutes.
Weaver was on hand to nod home a Greg Crane back post flick from David Bridgwater's in-swinging corner on the right.
Cambridge levelled in the 28th minute through Mark Beesley.
A good move down the left saw Lee McEvilly feed the ball through to Beesley, whose shot took a deflection past Howie.
Full-time United, who made numerous changes throughout the 90 minutes, dominated the possession stakes, but were unable to capitalise further until the 74th minute.
Craig Bussens weaved his way down the right before being upended in the box and Stephen Reed made no mistake from the spot.
Lynn equalised themselves eight minutes later when Josh Coulson's clearance struck Wayne Hatswell and Bloomfield nipped in to score.
Coulson was caught out again in the 84th minute and Bloomfield make no mistake with a crisp finish.
Lynn: Howie (Murray 63), C. Defty (Deane 51), Chapman (Buhlemann 70), Weaver (Harvey 83), Crane, Bridgwater (Camm 51), Turner (Fell 66), Horlock (Fisk 59), J. Defty (Frew 51), Joachim (Bloomfield 51), Francis (Melton 51). Subs (all used).
Goals: Weaver (6), Bloomfield (82, 84).
Cambridge United: Potter, Gleeson, Tonkin, Beesley, Halliday, Parkinson, McEvilly, Convery, Carden, Hoyte, Reed.