Gorleston 1 King's Lynn 2

19th December 1908

Lynn on Saturday made their fiat visit to Gorleston, there to meet the Babes of the League, a team which had lost fewer points than any other club this season. Gorleston had a strong team, while Lynn had the assistance of Dines (the ex-captain, now on holiday from Peterborough) who replaced Hornigold; Hayes, of the Swifts, filled a vacancy caused by the inability of Taylor to undertake the journey; and Smeed came in for Cupper.
Lynn: Peck, Hayes Allen; Bernard Dines, Smeed, W. Bannister, Reed, Stevens, Gemmell. Ransome
The visit of the champions was evidently popular, for there was a large crowd and much interest was shown. The weather was delightful.
Gorleston, as is usual in their League matches, opened strongly. And the homesters first found the net, but Littlewood, who was successful, was ruled offside.
There was some clever play by the respective left wings, the Lynn captain especially often showing up very prominently, and corners were forced at each end.
Gorleston played better together than did the Linnets and shot often, Brooks and Harris taking the lead in this respect.
Lynn improved and an apparent stiffness relaxed, and Stevens once broke through and hit the post, while Harverson saved brilliantly from Bannister after some fine work by Ransome, and also tipped over a beauty from Stevens.
Ten minutes from the interval Gemmell scored from a free kick, and the first half, which had been well contested, ended:

Lynn 1

Gorleston 0
Gorleston resumed in great style and, after Peck had given a corner, saving from Brooks, Harris equalised amid great excitement, this being inside five minutes.
A fast, interesting game ensued, and Lynn were the team to get the lead, Read, who played a fine game all through in his own style, converting a centre from Ransome. There were plenty of exciting moments, and Gorleston appeared likely to again equalise, but King shot wide of the open goal. In fact, the Lynn goal had several narrow escapes, Gorleston playing desperately hard.
However, no further' scoring came and a result which will have much to do with the championship came:

Lynn. 2

Gorleston 1
It was a record gate and the game was one of the most attractive ever seen at Gorleston. The Lynn defence was sound and the was one of the chief causes of the victory Dines much strengthened the halves. Forward Gemmell played one of his very best games: his pasting was superb. Allen, too was in fine fettle, while Hayes was not up to the level of Taylor,