King's Lynn 4 Rothwell Town 1
20th February 2001
King's Lynn 4 Rothwell Town 1
LINNETS cruised through to the quarter-final in style as they aim to better last season's semi-final spot.Both sides played attractively, with Eastern Division Rothwell fielding former Linnet Andy Bullimore, and Lynn should have doubled their tally.
The most pleasing aspect was that three fringe first team players who started Wayne Anderson, Lee Gibson and Simon Bush - were on the scoresheet, with Anderson notching his first senior goal for the club.
"Wayne has been my man-of-the-match for the last two games," said Linnets boss Tony Spearing. "Wayne, Simon and Ross McNeil have got a bright future if they keep their heads down."
Luckily for Linnets, in the 13th minute Bush surged into the box, his pass rebounded off a defender to Rowland, who was upended.
The Lynn forward made no mistake from the penalty spot for his 14th goal of the season.
Chuck Martini made a superb double save from Craig McIlwain and Graham Keast.
Anderson then looked to have no right to get shot in, but turned, lost two defenders on the right of the box and coolly slotted past ex-Wisbech keeper John Hughes' right.
A comedy of errors gave the Bones their goal before halftime. Rowland beat Anderson to the ball on the halfway line, hoofed it backwards where Martini only just headed it out to prevent a corner.
Martini then competed with Simon Dakin for the ball only to hit it at Lewis Mogg, who returned it 45 yards into the net.
Anderson went close before Puttnam's low left-wing cross was swept home from 10 yards by Gibson.
The midfielder then turned provider, his long ball eluding a static defence and Bush fired home to kill the game.
In a reverse situation, Bush put Gibson clean through but his pass went wide when he should have shot.
Jon Palmer headed inches over, while fellow sub Ross McNeil missed from six yards when set up by Bush after an Anderson effort was saved.
Bush and Adie Hayes also went close, while McIlwain fluffed his chance when clear.
"It's pleasing as Rothwell are doing well in their league and we could have ended up with seven or eight goals," said Spearing. "I though we started slowly and I gave them a going over at half-time. In the second half we were geed up alright."
Lynn are at former striker Shaun Keeble's club Stamford in Tuesday's quarter-final. Lynn: Martini, Dakin, Clark, Spearing (Lenagh 63), Fuff (McNeil 71), Gibson, Anderson, Hayes, Bush, Rowland (Palmer 63), Puttnam.
Rothwell: J. Hughes, D. Porter, B. Lord, A. Bulllmore, L. Mogg (Norton 86), G. Keast, G. Davies, S. Hill, C. Mcllwain (Mills 82), L Morris (Robson 75), J. Turner.
Att: 343.
MoM: Wayne Anderson.