Gateshead 3 King's Lynn 0
20th February 1983
IT HAS been a case of "Never on a Sunday" for the Linnets in their Northern Premier League clashes with leaders Gateshead.For the second Sunday in a row, they fell to a Gateshead side well equipped with players showing a goal-scoring flair. Lynn certainly could not be faulted for any lack of commitment, though that commitment showed greater in defence than going forward.
Their weakness and Gateshead's strength - as had been proved seven days previously at The Walks - was inventiveness in the face of a determined back line.
The game started at a pace which suggested the players were still digesting their Sunday lunch. The first serious threat was posed by the Tynesiders on the quarter-hour as Robinson looked for Pugh at the far post but Martin Lindsay read the situation to make a vital cut-out.
Jim Kabia could have put Lynn ahead after 20 minutes as Andy Higgins chested down a Freddie Easthall cross to his feet, but the striker jumped at the chance and shot wildly into the side-netting. Paul Bartlett was also in with a chance, but the keeper held his close range effort.
After a goalless first half, Gateshead stepped up the pace and veteran striker Bob Topping slipped them in front after 57 minutes with superb finishing, running on to a long through ball to lob Andy Claxton. Their tails up, Gateshead forge further ahead in the 67th minute, Topping again the scorer as Pearson nodded on from a corner.
Incredible scenes followed as Lynn looked to hit back. Almost from the re-start Higgins found room to drive from 25 yards only to see his effort blocked on the line and then rebounded off the upright. Gateshead sealed up their victory after 75 minutes. Wiles looked as if he misjudged across which gave Jim Pear an easy task to ahead from close range. There were two bookings during the game. Topping for Gateshead and Kabia for Lynn.
Gateshead: Dodds, Higgins, Hindson, Robinson, Jobling, Parnaby, Pugh, Pearson, Topping, Grigg, Henderson; sub Hibbitt.
Lynn: Claxton; Thompson Bircumshaw, Wiles. Lindsay Watts, Burrows, Higgins, Bartlett, Kabia, Easthall: sub Wilson.
Referee: T. Moore (Bradford). Attendance: 538.