Nuneaton 4 King's Lynn 0
15th September
AT Nuneaton Borough they videotape matches.But at Manor Park on Tuesday it produced a horror movie as Lynn's walking wounded were overwhelmed by Borough for their heaviest defeat since Merthyr last October.
Linnets' injury-hit squad, with six members out and three playing with knocks, had no answer to pacy leaders Nuneaton.
The situation was so desperate that assistant boss Darren Bloodworth played his first league game for nearly 18 months before limping off and his replacement, youth teamer Paul Nichols, made an impressive senior debut. The score would surely have been in double figures if not for Duncan Roberts' heroics.
Linnets manager Tony Spearing praised the 'crocks' who played on: "Glen Fuff was brave to carry on and Lee Gibson should have come off. Leo (Cotterell) was there to make up the numbers but did in his groin during the warm up. Paul Nichols was a credit to the club."
Young keeper Roberts said: "It was the busiest I've ever been. I thought I did all right but was disappointed I let in four. Our defence was sound but everything I kicked came straight back at us."
After two minutes Coren Hardy, making his first start, spotted the keeper off his line and forced a save with a 35-yard shot.
After that, the deluge. Premiership triallist Malcolm Christie beat the offside trap and coolly slotted past Roberts. Soon after the break came two headed goals, Thomas nodded in Wray's right-wing cross and Thomas turned provider for Wayne Simpson.
The visitors' best spell saw sub Julian Delicata find the net from a Colin Hoyle pass, but it was ruled out for offside. Ian Stringfellow's lob went just over.
Gary Statham turned in Richie Gardner's centre for a late fourth.
Lynn: D Roberts, Wright, G Roberts, Fuff, Hoyle, Bloodworth (Nichols 21), Hardy (Delicata 53), Gibson, Nuttell, Stringfellow, Oakes. Sub (not used) Cotterell
Nuneaton: Williams, Everitt, Prindiville, Statham, Angus, Crowley, Wray, Simpson, Thomas (Muir 76), Christie (Wilkin 78), Gardner, Sub (not used) Anderson.
| MATCH STATISTICS | Shots on Target | Shots off Target | Corners | Caught Offside | Free kicks Conceded |
Bookings |
| Lynn | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 9 | Oakes (41, foul) |
| Nuneaton | 10 | 6 | 6 | 12 | 6 |