King's Lynn 1 Gloucester City 2
18th April 1998
BRETT McNamara stopped Lynn's scoring drought - but it wasn't enough to prevent his side sliding to their
sixth defeat in seven games. Peter Morris' men had not scored in 293 minutes of football going into the game.
And they had to wait until the 83rd minute of Saturday's match to finally find the back of the net.
By then, Gloucester had already sealed the points with two goals ten minutes either side of half-time. The first came after a misjudgement by young goalkeeper Duncan Roberts. He had made an excellent reflex save five minutes earlier but came for a Simon Cooper cross and did not reach it, an error that allowed Chris Burns a header into an empty net.
In the 55th minute, poor home marking let in the second goal. Jon Holloway sent in a cross and Andy Mainwaring ran in unchallenged to crash home a diving header.
McNamara pulled a goal back seven minutes from the end. Lee Hudson's pass sent substitute Mark Paul away on the right and his low centre was fired home by McNamara. But it was too little too late for Lynn.
Conditions were terrible and referee Keith Hill had to make a pitch inspection an hour before kick-off.
He gave it the all-clear but the muddy conditions almost gifted Gloucester a goal in the first minute.
A harmless ball landed at Kori Davis' feet but he slipped as he tried to clear and Burns nipped in and drilled a shot inches wide.
Home fans thought their side had scored after four minutes. McNamara's effort was blocked for a corner and when the flag-kick was sent in, Steve Williams rose highest but his looping header went just over with most spectators thinking it was a goal. Hudson's deep cross was headed back by McNamara and Williams' shot was blocked as the Linnets looked for a goal.
At the other end, Darren Keeling's delicate chip went over and Gary Thome's powerful header was tipped over by Roberts before the visitors took the lead.
After the break - and after Gloucester had increased their advantage - teenager Paul was sent on and he was played in straight away by Colin Hoyle but his low cross was easily cut out.
Burns chipped a clever free-kick to Andy Tucker and is cross was volleyed against Jason Pascoe by Holloway.
Steve Fergusson sent in a free-kick and the Lynn defence were left flat footed as Burns rose unchallenged but planted his header over the bar.
Roberts did well to push Burns' shot wide before the Lynn keeper and Davis got their wires crossed, the central defender back-heading a long ball which Roberts had come to collect it. Adie Mings was presented with an open goal but headed wide.
Paul's pace caused Gloucester problems and his cut-back fed Williams who took too long in shooting and Hoyle headed over from Hudson's corner.
McNamara netted but Lynn failed to create another clear opening, their best effort coming when Williams tried his luck from 30 yards.
Lynn: D Roberts, G Roberts, Riches (Paul 56), Davis, Hoyle, Spearing, Pascoe, Norfolk (Mead 77), Williams, McNamara, Hudson. Sub (not used) Lewis.
Gloucester: Sumpter, Holloway, Rountree (Fergusson 20), Thorne, Powell (Steadman 45), Keeling, Cooper, Burns, Mainwaring (Webb 81), Mings, Tucker.
| MATCH STATISTICS | Shots on Target | Shots off Target | Corners | Caught Offside | Free kicks Conceded |
Bookings |
| Lynn | 5 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 11 | McNamara (foul, 90) |
| Gloucester | 6 | 5 | 10 | 6 | 20 |
Keeling (foul, 37) Thorne (dissent, 65) |