Matlock Town 3 King's Lynn 2
18th August 2009
THE Linnets were left looking for their first UniBond Premier League points after being edged out in this five-goal thriller at Causeway Lane.
Matlock's Dene Cropper claimed the all-important winner five minutes from time to give the Derbyshire side their first points of the season.
Linnets boss Carl Heggs said: "We were a hundred times better than on Saturday, but our two centre-halves and goalkeeper have cost us the game.
"We haven't managed to keep a clean sheet since I came to the club so it's obvious where our problems are."
Lynn, still smarting from the 3-1 opening-day defeat against Stocksbridge Park Steels, asked most of the questions in the first half.
Andy Boyce knocked an early assist from skipper Craig McAughtrie over the bar and in the 28th minute Gareth Sheldon curled a free-kick against Adam Sollitt's near post, which was scrambled away by his relieved colleagues.
The Linnets took the lead 11 minutes before the break when Ryan Beswick's cross was clinically converted by Jordan Smith.
Lynn's slender advantage lasted all of two minutes when Ross Hannah's venomous shot was helped into the net by Linnets goalkeeper Jason White.
White then somehow managed to block Cropper's fierce volley, while at the other end Scott Brough cleverly deflected Beswick's cross for a corner.
Matlock were a different side after the interval and it was the hosts who took the lead when an unmarked Matt Haran rose majestically to power in a header from a corner.
The delight of the home support had barely subsided when Owen Story levelled matters with a screaming volley from all of 25-yards, which even had the home fans applauding in appreciation.
Both Hannah and Cropper were denied by a combination of the woodwork and White, before Cropper struck the decisive blow to sink Lynn five minutes from time.
Matlock: Sollitt, Brough, Featherstone, King, Haran, Laight, Wood (Jackson 79), Warne, Cropper, Hannah, Davies. Subs not used: Riley, Cartwright, Foyle, Buxton.
Lynn: White, Magunda, Martin, Birley, McAughtrie (Murray 87), Boyce, Story, Lloyd, Sheldon, Smith, Beswick (Green 58). Subs not used: Johnson, Webb, Whatsize.
Referee: A. Tankard (Yorks).
Attendance: 378.