King's Lynn 1 Margate 4

16th December 2000

LINNETS suffered their worst league home defeat for three years.
They barely registered a chance against a strong, well organised defence, while second placed Margate had a deadly cutting edge.
Lynn's experienced defence -was pulled apart by the best front two seen at The Walks this season - Leon Braithwaite and Dr Martens Premier top scorer Phil Collins.
Efforts from Jon Palmer and Adie Hayes were about all Lynn could muster, while Chuck Martini endured another nightmare in goal. Like his display at Margate last month, the Moroccan was nowhere for the first two headed goals.
"Basic errors cost us dear. Chuck's put his hands up, and he's had a nightmare," said caretaker boss Tony Spearing.
"The first three goals I was very disappointed with. We can't drop Chuck because funds are limited and we can't get another keeper in. "
Spearing met the club's board at the weekend about the vacant manager's position and they are due to meet again this week, with acting chairman Colin Nichols adding that he hopes the situation will be resolved then.
After a frantic start, the visitors soon went ahead on six minutes with a soft goal. Lynn allowed Collins to nod in a Mark Munday corner at the near post.
Ten minutes later, Collins latched on to Jay Saunders' ball over the top from the half-way line, but the forward missed with his lob. Tempers boiled over in the last 20 minutes of the first half and it was fortunate no-one was sent off.
Braithwaite got in front of the home defence, his effort was blocked by Martini and Collins appeared to be pushed over by Dave Robinson.
The Gate doubled their advantage on the half-hour with an almost carbon copy of their first goal, Collins helping on Eliot Martin's corner and lain O'Connell heading home from close range.
Five minutes before the break Munday again found Collins with a defence-splitting lofted ball and he successfully lobbed the stranded Martini this time.
Martini was looking so uncomfortable that he got ironic cheers when he caught the ball.
Linnets were given a lifeline in the 63rd minute when Simon Dakin bundled in a Tommy Wright centre, but they were shortly brought back to earth. Both Braithwaite and Collins missed sitters.
Spearing made three substitutions, including bringing on himself, in order to make something happen, but this could not prevent Margate sealing the game five minutes from time.
Braithwaite tormented Lynn down the right with his pace and a great square ball found strike partner Collins, who drilled in the top corner for his hat-trick.
Lynn: Martini, Dakin, Clark, Robinson (Spearing 73), Fuff, March, Nwadike (Gibson 85), Hayes (McNeil 87), Palmer, Rowland, Wright.
Margate: L. Turner, G. Porter, P. Lamb, B. Edwards, L. Williams, I. O'Connell, M. Munday, E. Martin, L. Braithwaite, P. Collins (M. Tako 87), J. Saunders. Subs not used: D. Yorath, D. Birmingham.
Att: 784

MATCH STATISTICS	Shots on Target	Shots off Target	Corners	Caught Offside	Free kicks Conceded	Bookings
Lynn	2	2	2	2	15	March (20, foul)
Margate	7	8	4	6	14	Porter (33, foul)