King's Lynn 6 Irchester 1
1st January 2004
The Linnets served up a second half massacre - but joint joint boss Gary Setchell wasn't happy with this opening day demolition job.
A frustrating first half, which ended goalless, saw Irchester thwart the Linnets but their resistance crumbled in the second period as the title favourites romped to an easy victory.
Setchell said it took a half-time dressing down to spark his players into a reaction.
"We had a few choice words to say to the players during the interval," admitted Setchell.
"I'd say we were diabolical in the first half. We just didn't retain the ball enough and kept knocking long balls up to Jack (Defty) and that wasn't good enough."
Robbie Harris opened the floodgates following a Steve Spriggs cross after 47 minutes, but a minute later Craig Lawman levelled for Irchester with a free-kick.
Ryan Fryatt headed Lynn back into the lead after 52 minutes and a Danny White double with his head after 60 and 64 minutes put the match beyond doubt.
Stephen Spriggs added number five three minutes later and last season's leading scorer Jack Defty got in on the act 14 minutes from time.
Setchell admitted that two-goal White's contribution was one of the better performances of the afternoon.
"I thought Danny White worked his socks off and deserved his two goals, while I thought Stuart Wall was immense at the back. He won every first header."
Lynn: Street, Watson, Duarte, Cousins (Fryatt 38), Wall, White, Spriggs, L. Thurlbourne (Buhlemann 62), Defty, Harris (Beaumont 58), J. Thurlbourne. Unused subs: Coe, Hails.
Attendance: 729. Man-of-the-match: Danny White.