Erith & Belvedere 2 King's Lynn 4
18th February 2003
SUPERSUB Paul Watts broke a 20 year-old club record as the Linnets put themselves firmly in the promotion picture on Tuesday
Their fifth successive away win the best away run since 1963/64 puts them three points off the second promotion spot, although they have played more games than their rivals.Jack Defty, Chris Bacon, Paul Raynor's first goal of the season and Watts ensured Lynn continued their unbeaten run in 2003 - seven wins and a draw, with a bumper 26 goals.
In his Lynn career Watts has scored seven times (five times this season) after coming off the bench, thus breaking Keith Rudd's milestone.
Watts sealed the game in rapidly freezing conditions after Erith had clawed it back to 2-2.
"We deserved to win, we played very brightly for 25 minutes,' said Lynn boss Peter Morris. "Credit to them for equalising, although for their first goal we went to sleep. We dominated most of the second half.
"Paul Watts came on and made contact with a magic run and cross by Jack Defty down the left, but it went just over the bar. What a goal that would have been.
"Jack's fitness levels are now up to the required standard. He's had a good return for a midfielder, six goals in around 15 games.
"His appetite for his goal was tremendous, he ran 40 or 50 yards to get on the end of a David Staff cross.
"Paul Raynor's first goal has been awhile coming, but he's contributed in many other ways."
Staff had setup Defty from close range just six minutes into the game, and Bacon had put Lynn 2-0 upon 19 minutes when he headed home unmarked Raynor's free-kick.
On the half-hour Lynn keeper Steve Wilson tipped Darren Adams' shot onto the bar, but Marvin Neufville converted the rebound.
The Deres levelled on 51 minutes when Adams nodded in Lee Snowsill's right-wing centre.
Carl Holmes and Mark Burrows went close before Raynor struck a beauty from outside the box on the hour to cue a wild celebration.
After his earlier miss, Watts sealed the points five minutes from time, like the previous weekend getting a goal via fellow sub Jordan Blyth and firing home low.
Lynn: Wilson, Jones (Blois 68),Cowling, Burrows, Fuff, Defty, Weston, Raynor, Bacon (Blyth 81), Staff, Holmes, (Watts 81). Subs not used: Blake, Nobel.
Erith: Hunt, Gibson, Saunders, Morrish, Gowier, M. Vercesi (R. Vercesi 57). J. Vercesi, White, Adams, Neufville (Davy 74), Snowsill (Billenness 62). Not used: Whitehouse, Emerick.
Referee: I Woodward (Sussex). Att: 92.