Tamworth 1 King's Lynn 2
23rd February 1974
This match was heading for a tame draw until some quick thinking by Dominic McCallum and Keith Rudd prised open the Tamworth defence.
There was only nine minutes left when McCallum won a throw in deep inside the Tamworth half.
It was the kind of situation that presents itself innumerable times in a game and only needs the usual defensive marking to prevent a way to goal.
But McCallum spotted that Rudd had been completely unmarked as the Tamworth defence inexplicably turned their backs and grouped in the middle of their penalty area.
Quickly McCallum took the throw, Rudd turned with the ball and with no defender near him advanced on the goal and slipped his shot under Mick Richards' dive.
It was Rudd's 99th goal for the club, although the way he was mobbed it could have been his 100th; it was nice also to see Frank Wignall save some of his praise for McCallum. The Tamworth defence looked accusingly at each other, with centre half Gary Brown getting much of the blame for letting Rudd escape his attentions.
So Lynn got the result, their fifth Southern League away success and their third league double.
It was not a good game to watch, both sets of defences stifling the attacks before they really got going.
Wignall and Brooks dominated the middle of the first half to give Lynn the edge. Fittingly it was Brooks who laid on the first goal, going down to the by-line and slanting his pass back for David Clarke to place home.
Only anxious moment for Lynn came when Mick Keeley got clear of Mick Wright and Garry Steel was out quickly to smother his shot.
Tamworth had to reorganise when defender Martin Dixon went off with torn ligaments, but put more into the game in the second half.
Equaliser came in the 70th minute when Mick Bates forced Keeley's low centre home.
After Rudd's reply, Steel made good saves to keep Lynn ahead. Mbr /> Tamworth: Richards, Sherry, Dixon (sub Bates 45 mins), Millard, Brown, Seedhouse, Harper, Harris, Bates, Keeley, Jagger.
Lynn: Steel, Richardson, Kerr, Brooks, Smith, Wright, McCalu, Lindsay, Rudd, Wignall, Clarke (sub Elliott).
Referee: J Griffiths (Oxford)