Salisbury City 2 King's Lynn 2

16th January 1998

It is a measure of how far they have come that Lynn, who lost their first six away games of the season, were disappointed with their point in Wiltshire.
They have closed the gap to being two points adrift of Bromsgrove at the bottom of the table and Linnets, who had previously picked up just four points on their travels, remain unbeaten in 1999.
Salisbury led with a fluky deflected goal but Mark Turner notched his sixth in as many games and the outstanding Dave Robinson took the lead. But another unsatisfactory goal conceded meant Linnets settled for a draw.
'We could have won it," was Lynn manager Gary Mills' verdict. "In the second half we were dominating and could have been 3-1 or 4-1 up before it was 2-2. But overall with the first half it was fair result
"It's the worse we've started for some time and I was disappointed with the first goal, it hit their number nine on the backside.
"It's been another cup final, it's another point and we know we need more at Burton at on Saturday
"Every time Lee Allen got the ball he frightened them to death. Dave Puttnam and the backs did well. Jon Palmer lets himself down sometimes but some of the things he does are unbelievable."
Lynn had a cruel start as Robbie Harbut's shot cannoned off Paul Sales, and limped into the net with keeper Chuck Martini sent completely the wrong way as he covered the original shot. Colin Hoyle then cleared Harbut's header off the line.
Lee Allen burst into the Salisbury box but his theatrical dive as Danny Rofe challenged did not earn a penalty. Jon Painter nipped in to intercept a wayward Neil Housley back pass but couldn't push the ball past keeper Jason Matthews. Lynn got their reward as Allen fed Palmer, who this time beat Matthews and crossed for Turner to tap in the corner of the net. Allen's cross hit the top of the bar and further chances went to the on-loan Leicester City striker including a one-on-one situation from Palmer's pass, but Matthews, saved at his feet.
Lynn stormed out of the blocks for the second half. Turner headed goalwards but Adie Randalll nodded off the line. But after the third Dave Puttnam corner in a row, Turner flicked on and Dave Robinson turned it in at the far post.
Allen had a shot well saved before Salisbury bit back. Tyronne Bowers beat Palmer, ran and his screarner brought off a diving save from Martini. But Lynn were ball-watching as it ran out to the by-line and Harbut was alert to chip in from an acute angle.
Puttnam ran on to Turner's through ball, rounded the keeper but seemed to be impeded by Matthews as he slipped on a surface made greasy by a sudden hailstorm, and fired wide.
Robinson, who had just cleared a dangerous Whites attack, nearly had the final say but headed sub Leo Cotterell's free-kick inches over.
Lynn: Martini, Follet, Spearing, Robinson, Hoyle, Mills, Turner, Ramsey, Allen, Palmer (Cotterell 79), Puttnam. Subs (not used) Fuff, Wilson
Salisbury: Matthews, Harbut, Braybrook, Rofe, Emms, Randall, Bowers, Sales (James 60), Haytor, Chalk, Housley. Sub (not used) Bright, Coles.

MATCH STATISTICS	Shots on Target	Shots off Target	Corners	Caught Offside	Free kicks Conceded	Bookings
Lynn	7	6	9	6	11	Puttnam (71, dissent)
Salisbury	8	4	5	1	9	Rofe (4, foul) Braybrook (64, foul) Bowers (84, foul)