King's Lynn 0 Worcester City 0
17th February 2001
DEPLETED Linnets played out a lacklustre draw with third placed City in their first home league match since February 6.Simon Dakin was suspended, Simon Bush was working, and Tommy Wright - who was a substitute but would not have played - was joined by Dave Robinson on the injured list before the match.
This prompted manager Tony Spearing to start for the first time in 15 weeks and give a first start to Wayne Anderson at wing-back.
"Considering the squad didn't have enough players to fill the bench, I gave someone their full debut and the old stager had to come on, we did alright," said Spearing.
Chances were few and far between, and the best two fell to Lynn in the space of a minute late in the game when Linnets finally came to life.
The standard of play was not helped by a mudbath of a surface.
Reserves captain Anderson showed he deserved his elevation, never letting his side down.
"I like him and his attitude, I know what I'm going to get out of him;" said Spearing.
"He's definitely one to keep an eye on. If anyone deserves special praise, it's Craig Clark.
Considering he was on the transfer list, he's put his head down and he's looking as though he's comfortable in the side."
Worcester had the first chance in the third minute with Micky Cotter bursting into the box, but his shot rolled wide. The visitors never got near the Lynn goal for the remainder of the opening. half, but Linnets could not make much impression either. At a tenth minute corner, Adie Hayes volleyed from 20 yards straight at keeper Danny McDonnell, who then committed a -suspicion of handball when he raced out of his area to clear from Jon Palmer.
Shortly before half-time, Glen Fuff - who with central defensive partner Craig Clark stood out - headed well wide from a Dave Puttnam corner.
Fuff did better two minutes after the break, causing McDonnell to drop a corner and the ball bounced before being cleared, only for Hayes to fire wide the rebound.
Both sides made substitutions on the half-hour, luckily for Lynn one of them being the dangerous Cotter.
Then Linnets bossed the last quarter of the game.
Puttnam laid off a delightful ball on the right to present Rowland with a one-on-one situation with 12 minutes left.
But McDonnell was quick off his line to block his effort.
McDonnell pulled off his second excellent save in a minute when Rowland latched onto a long clearance, cut inside and his low left-foot drive was somehow parried by the keeper diving to his left.
That was as good as it got.
In a last minute breakaway by Worcester, good covering by Fuff sent sub Carl Tranter out wide. He could only square for Marc Burrow to shoot weakly straight at Chuck Martini.
The Moroccan, who has received his fair share of flak after some indifferent displays, was flawless in his handling all afternoon.
Lynn: Martini, Anderson, Clark, Spearing, Full, March (Gibson 82), Lenagh, Hayes, Palmer, Rowland, Puttnam. Subs not used: McNeil, Wright.
Worcester: D. McDonnell, A. Davjes, R Carty, C. Greenman, C. Healey, M. Weir, M. Wyatt (C. Tranter 80), A. Ellis, M. Burrow, M. Cotter (M. Owen 82), I. Cottriil. Not used: J. Hyde.
Att: 880.
| MATCH STATISTICS | Shots on Target | Shots off Target | Corners | Caught Offside | Free kicks Conceded |
Bookings |
| Lynn | 4 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 14 | March (34 foul) |
| Worcester | 3 | 5 | 7 | 10 | 18 | Burrow (59 elbow) |