King's Lynn 0 Folkestone Invicta 2

17th November 2001

THE Linnets old problem of lack of firepower came back to haunt them as defensive errors handed Folkestone the points.
They had most of the possession and play and made a mediocre Invicta defence look good.
Folkestone had a giant keeper who could not hold on to the ball and a shaky defence, but still the Linnets who hit the post could not score and it was difficult to believe they were 2-0 down at half-time.
And when on-loan Norwich striker Danny Bloomfield was substituted on his home debut, it cued home fans jeers of "You don't know what you're doing."
Player-coach Tommy Wright explained: "It was a case of getting another forward on.
"It was no reflection on Danny's performance. You've got to take your chances, we shouldn't have been beaten by them.
"If we got back to 1-1 or 2-1 we probably would have won it. The two goals conceded were disappointing."
The visitors took a shock fourth minute lead as a lofted ball caught out the Linnets defence. Glen Fuff missed it and a combination of keeper Steve Wilson and defenders failed to clear.
Roger Joseph and Simon Dakin blocked Nicky Dent's shot on the line, but Mike Azzopardi buried the rebound.
The hosts immediately hit back and Bloomfield was unlucky on a number of occasions, his pace causing Folkestone problems.
The Walks outfit could not capitalise on numerous goalmouth incidents.
After 20 minutes away keeper David Wietecha was again in a flap, but Adie Hayes could not take full advantage and hit the base of the post.
Invicta grabbed another goal against the run of play just before the half-hour.
Another long ball caught the Linnets napping, James Dryden got round behind Roger Joseph the rearguard and in a good move neatly crossed for Dent to head home.
Again the home side pressed forward. Ex-Swaffham forward Kevin White, who has adapted well in midfield, fed the ball wide to Bloomfield. However, Dakin shot wide from the ensuing cross when well-placed.
If the positions had been reversed, perhaps the Linnets would have scored.
Wright came on and should have scored, but volleyed wide.
The second half followed the same pattern with the Linnets dominating play, but selected the wrong final option or lacked the killer instinct.
Folkestone threatened on the break using the pace of Dryden in their quick counter-attacks, and threatened to add a third goal, but Wilson was alert to snuff out any attacks.
Bloomfield looked the most likely to score, including hitting the side netting.
The game was summed up when Bloomfield dispossessed defender Danny Chapman, sent in a perfect centre, but the Linnets were too slow to break into the box.
The introduction of two more strikers, Jamie Clarke and Kris Jones, could not change matters. Lynn: Wilson, Dakin, March, Joseph, Fuff, Clark (Jones 63), Minett (Wright 37), Hayes, Bloomfield (Clarke 74), Rowe, White.
Folkestone: D. Wietecha, A. Morris, M. Azzopardi, D. Chapman, S. Daniels, A. Hogg, M. Chandler, D.G. Chapman, J. Dryden, N. Dent (D. Larkin 90), A. Henry. Subs not used: J. Ayling, A. Larkin
Att: 885

MATCH STATISTICS	Shots on Target	Shots off Target	Corners	Caught Offside	Free kicks Conceded	Bookings
Lynn	3	3	8	7	10
Folkestone	7	2	1	10	10

Lynn News Man of the Match - Danny Bloomfield