King's Lynn 1 Halesowen Town 0
15th April 2000
MIDFIELDER Mark Turner’s eighth goal of the season
meant the Linnets rose to fourth spot after their 1-0
home win against Halesowen.Now King’s Lynn are only five points from recording their best campaign since returning to the Premier Division four seasons ago.
“I’m delighted to go fourth. It sets us up nicely for the last four games,” said Linnets manager Gary Mills. “I haven’t really set targets, just to keep on winning.”
He is determined to break that 70-point barrier, but is under no illusions: “I said to the lads before the game, if we win there’s a chance of going fourth in the table, but if we lose there’s a chance of going seventh.
“It’s tight at the top, so it’s important to keep winning. It wasn’t easy. It was very wet and the pitch was hard.
“Halesowen played some fine stuff and I can see why they’ve had a good run of late. I’m glad we kept a clean sheet.”
In the first half, Lynn played some flowing football up to the Halesowen box, with Simon Dakin outstanding, but the final ball was lacking.
Turner nearly scored early on for the Birmingham side, his looping headed clearance deceiving Chuck Martini and hitting the post.
Turner then blazed over a volley at the other end. On the half hour Martini and Mills relieved the gloomy weather by having a set-to after the Linnets player-boss felt the keeper should have picked up a back pass.
Dave Puttnam marked his return with a lively display and he had the best chance, his effort from Jon Palmer’s cross just looping inches past the angle of bar and post.
In the first minute of the second half, Puttnam tested keeper Danny McDonnell with a lob, and then produced a good save from McDonnell’s feet after a superb ball from Palmer.
But shortly after, Lynn took a deserved lead. Turner, who looks a much better player when Mills’ presence allows him to get forward, latched on to a Puttnam flick-on, and slotted home under McDonnell.
The Yeltz finished the stronger side, with former Aston Villa midfielder Paul Birch shining. He came closest to equalising, but Martini pulled off a fine reaction save following a deflection off Mills.
Lynn: Martini, Dakin, Spearing, Robinson, Fuff, Nwadike (Gibson 74) ,Mills, Clark, Palmer (Rowland 73), Turner, Puttnam. Subs (not used) Bogan
Halesowen : McDonnell, Brown, Owen, Lloyd, Smith, Gardiner, Birch, Gennard (Cooper 68), Thomas, Crisp, Reed. Subs (not used) Collins, Wright.
| MATCH STATISTICS | Shots on Target | Shots off Target | Corners | Caught Offside | Free kicks Conceded |
Bookings |
| Lynn | 3 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 8 | |
| Halesowen | 3 | 6 | 5 | 3 | 18 |
Lynn News Man of the Match - Simon Dakin