Hillingdon Borough 3 King's Lynn 1
14th December 1968
THE Linnets' were a bit unfortunate not to come away with a point
from their visit to meet Southern League leaders, Hillingdon,. on Saturday. During the second half they, took a grip on the game and having pulled back a goal after being 2-0 down at the
interval they were always threatening to draw level. The leaders did not clinch victory until they scored a third goal a few minutes before the end.
On a hard, slippery pitch, which presented the players with skating rink problems, Hillingdon had the better of the first half, against a Lynn team whose normal style of play proved to be tactically inappropriate for the conditions.
But after the interval Lynn changed their tactics by pushing the ball forward to have the home defence in difficulties trying to turn. The policy bore fruit when they scored only five minutes after the resumption.
Lynn were the masters of the second half and there were chances to have not only drawn, but to have won. Reg Davies reached for a bouncing ball near goal and under normal conditions must have scored. But on raising his right leg to reach the ball, his left foot slipped from under him and he was suspended horizontally as he kicked the ball, which went over the bar.
As a result Davies was winded for a moment or two On another occasion, the ball bounced awkwardly for Brian Jenkins and the shot came off his knee instead of his foot, while goalkeeper Lowe came to Hillingdon's rescue with a brilliant save from David Clarke.
The result of this match strengthened Hillingdon's position at the top of the able and left Lynn seven points behind with three matches in hand. This means that for - the first time.-Lynn are more, points behind the leaders than they have possible points from outstanding fixtures.
Hillingdon made the running froth the start and Norman Coe, who had a fine match, easily held a shot from Carter who had met a right wing centre from Townend.
In the 19th minute Lynn conceded a goal in unfortunate circumstances. Tony Chilleystone unhappi1y made a bad back pass and inside right JOHN COZENS pounced on the ball to carry it forward and hammer it past Coe from barely ten yards.
Coe, remembered in London for his days at Arsenal, . played a fine game and threw his small frame all over the frosty goal area. He was kept very busy for the rest of the half. but was only beaten once more. He. dived courageously at the- feet of outside-right Mike' Fairchild after the right winger had worked his all way into the area and then tipped a snap shot from Cozens over the bar.
But he stood no chance at all when Borough went two up after 28 minutes. Inside left BILL CARTER sent a dipping drive into the top of the net, and Coe had no chance of reaching it in the conditions.
The second half was a different story. Lynn put on the pressure and in the 50th minute reduced the arrears when David Brooks scored with a fine 25-yard shot. The same player later hit another good shot, but the ball went just behind a post.
At the other end Vafiadis netted for Hillingdon, but was ruled offside. Hillingdon were often in difficulties but Lynn just could not get that elusive equaliser. Ten minutes from the end Keith Rudd came on for Brian Jenkins, but it brought Lynn no better luck, and five minutes from the end the match was decided when COZENS scored his second for Hillingdon. Chilleystone was bundled off the ball and the Hillingdon inside right raced away over 30 yards before dribbling round Norman Coe to score.
Hillingdon: Lowe; McNeice, Langley: Watson., Newcombe. Moore: Fairchild. Cozens, Townend, Carter. Vafiadis.
King's Lynn: Coe, Haskins, Sharp; Brooks, Mullett, Chilleystone: Savino, Davies, Lindsay, Jenkins (Rudd). Clarke.