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Blue & Gold Trust Official Website

King's Lynn 4 Kettering Town 4
19th September 1959
Though unable to reproduce the punch shown against Wisbech two days earlier, mainly because of sound covered by the Kettering defence, Lynn looked well on the way to victory at The Walks
on Saturday when they led 2-0 after 48 minutes. But what a shock was in store for them and the 3,000 spectators. In the space of 19 minutes Kettering wiped out those two goals and twice before the end went into the lead.
So in the end Lynn must have been relieved to: draw a match which they should certainly have won. Their downfall sprang from three defensive blunders
each of which resulted in a goal.
After a scrappy first half during which neither attack could master the defences, the game was lifted from its rut by the second half goal rush. Though the honours in this period went to Kettering for their spirited comeback. full credit must go to Lynn's attackers for the way they hit back in the face of adversity to save a point.
So easily could the game have swayed in Kettering's favour.
Lynn forwards found Kettering much tougher in defence than their Wisbech opponents on Thursday, but they certainly looked the more impressive during the first half. Dixon had a shot well saved
by Roberts and defenders cleared hurriedly, sometimes for corners, to check Lynn at other times. Nevertheless goals rarely looked likely.
In fact the two best chances in the first period were frittered away.
Neale, close in, had a great chance for Kettering but fired over, while at the other end Luke, with a similar opportunity also ballooned the ball high over.
Thomas, back in Lynn's goal after injury at Barry, dealt competently with Kettering's best efforts as the visitors hit back near the interval.
Then getting away again, Lynn took the lead in the 44th minute. Baxter, who later was to have a hand in two other Lynn goals, sent over a high centre and Dixon
headed it on across goal to Sewell who promptly volleyed the ball in.
Lynn were fortunate not to concede a goal in the first minute of the second-half when ex-internatonal Jack Froggatt gave Neale another chance. This time the Kettering inside 1eft hit the cross bar with a powerful shot.
However, a minute later Lynn scored again. Dixon, trying to break through, was fouled and from the penalty spot Luke netted.
This should have seen Lynn well on the road to victory. But it was not the case. Froggatt, operating at one end as an additional inside forward and at the other as an extra defender managed to find an open Space and was unmarked when Johnson allowed a pass from Hamilton to pass between his legs. Froggatt needed no better chance and he took it.
This goal, in the 54th minute was followed by an equaliser thirteen minutes later when Hamilton managed to get his head to a free-kick and nod the ball past Thomas and two other Lynn defenders.
Lynn were now up against it as Froggatt appeared here, there and everywhere to scheme openings, much to the consternation of Lynn defenders and particularly Cleary. The position was made even worse when Lynn plays hesitated expecting the whistle to blow for offside, and Hamilton raced on to the ball to put Kettering ahead.
The crowd roar with delight a minute later, however, when Sewell - what a hard worker he is - swept the ball in after Luke had made ground up the right flank and passed the ball inside.
The game was full of excitement now and further surprises were to follow. In the 80th minute. Kettering snatched the lead once more. It was a truly opportunist goal by Draper.
Chasing the ball as it rolled towards goal there seemed little chance for him, but Mackey instead of tapping the ball back to Thomas ran with it in front of him and in the confusion created Draper forced the ball past Thomas, who had come out a little too late.
Was this to be the end for Lynn? It certainly looked so, but no. Only five minutes later Lynn brought more delighted cheers with a second equaliser.
The Kettering goal had had some narrow escapes, then a well-placed centre by Baxter found Dixon who turned the ball in.

Lynn: Thomas; Mackey, Brown: Neilson, Cleary, Johnson; Baxter, Luke, Dixon, Sewell, Lockey.
Kettering: Roberts: Smith, Groom; Froggatt, Marston, Armour; Morrow, Hamilton, Draper, Neale, Burrows.
Attendance: 3065.
Report by permission of the Lynn News