King's Lynn 2 Trafford 2
22nd February 2014
King's Lynn Town's EvoStik League play-off hopes were left hanging in the balance after they squandered a two-goal lead at The Walks on Saturday.
An injury-time equaliser saw the visitors snatch a point after the Linnets, who had Jake Jones sent-off late on, let a two-goal half-time advantage slip from their grasp.
Furious Linnets boss Gary Setchell said: "We were guilty of not putting the game to bed when we were 2-0 up, then we were guilty of conceding two very sloppy goals, which infuriates me.
"That result has absolutely killed us and the lads are on the floor. Being 2-0 up was a really good opportunity for us to kick on before our game at Droylsden.
"In the first half we came out of the blocks and did everything which we talked about. We put pressure on the ball and passed the ball excellently through midfield.
"But after the break we were at sixes and sevens in the second half."
With Peter Bore leaving the club due to work commitments and striker Rob Duffy failing a late fitness test, the Linnets were only able to name three substitutes.
On-loan Norwich City goalkeeper Ben Killip made his debut for the club with regular shotstopper Alex Street serving a suspension.
George Thomson's pass was headed home by Andy Hall after eight minutes before the latter then turned provider for Jones to double Lynn's lead less than two minutes later.
Shelton Payne pounced on some awful defending to bring Trafford back into it in the 49th minute before Michael Oates punished some more hesitant defending to earn his side an unlikely draw.
In between Trafford's two goals, Jones was sent for an early bath after picking up his second yellow card of the contest.
Lynn only had themselves to blame after not putting the game well beyond Trafford's reach in a one-sided first 45 minutes.
David Bell's mis-hit cross nearly made it three, while George Thomson, Hall and Sam Mulready had further opportunities to extend Lynn's advantage going into the interval.
But it wasn't to be and Trafford took full advantage of a lethargic Linnets display after the break.
Lynn: Killip, R. Clarke, Fryatt, Lee, Yong, Mills (Sanders 82), Hall, Bell, Thomson (McDonald 79), Jones, Mulready. Sub not used: E. Clarke. Booked: Jones (x2). Sent-off: Jones. Goals: Hall (8), Jones (10).
Trafford: O'Hara, Beadle (Welsh 57), Smart, Mason, Bayunu, Schofield, Payne, Andrews, Oates, Fallon, Hackney (Ashton 76). Subs not used: Palmer, Jones, Heron. Booked: Schofield, Bayunu, Payne. Goals: Payne (49), Oates (90+1).
MoM: Andy Hall. Referee: A. Wilson. Attendance: 602.