King's Lynn 3 Hinckley United 0
17th December 2002
CHRIS Bacon notched his first senior team hat-trick to take the scalp of Premier Division Hinckley.Bacon has now racked up an incredible eight goals in his last four games as Lynn fully deserved to progress to the quarter-finals.
Former Lynn players Jamie March and Simon Dakin had a fruitless return to The Walks, looking uncomfortable playing among Hinckley's three-at-the-back.
The Linnets deserved to go into the break 1-0 up. They had a number of early half-chances before the visitors had their best chance of the opening period on 23 minutes.
Chris Smith beat the offside trap and forced Lynn keeper Dean Greygoose to use both hands in tipping his stinging shot over the bar.
Lynn regained control as Adam Weston , who again was industrious, crossed from the right and a low shot from Bacon was turned around the post by Tommy Whittle.
Bacon got his reward from the resulting corner on 29 minutes, forcing the ball over the line in a goalmouth scramble. Bacon was denied by a defender and keeper, while Lee Stephenson, cutting in from the left, was unlucky to hit the opposite post with a brilliant curler.
Within the opening 30 seconds of the second half Bacon took advantage of a bad back pass and hesitant defending to slide the ball into the net.
He and strike partner Stephenson also went close before Hinckley substituted their forward Scott Voice, who had a mute evening and rarely saw the ball.
11 On the hour a lovely move saw Bacon complete his hat-trick.
Paul Raynor - full of energy for a veteran - sent a super ball over the top to Stephenson, who beat Dakin on the left, and Bacon hooked home his centre.
Lynn were playing keep-ball, and March cleared off the line a Jack Defty bullet-header in the 71st minute.
Hinckley had a good ten-minute spell of possession late in the game, but created just two clear-cut opportunities, Greygoose instinctively saving with his feet from Leon Doughty and then Ashley Hamilton volleying in mid-air over the bar.
Lynn: Greygoose, Jones, Cowling, Burrows, Fuff, Defty, Weston, Raynor (Ortega 76), Bacon, Stephenson (Harris 81), Staff (Watts 81). Subs not used: Harvey, Dobrowolski.
Hinckley: T. Whittle, N. Cartwright, J. March, L. Doughty S. Dakin, N. Preston (A. Hamilton 76), C. Smith, W. Dyer, D. Sadler, S. Voice (A. Penny 57), M. Fox (T. Wilkes 78). Sub not used: D. Crowley.
Bookings, Lynn: none. Hinckley: Preston (35 foul).
Referee: R. Beevor (Poringland).
Att: 331. MoM: Chris Bacon