King's Lynn 1 Bath City 1
23rd March 2002
THE Linnets inability to make their first-half superiority count proved costly against a poor Bath side.They dominated early on, but went into their shells for the remainder of the match.
Coach Darren Bloodworth said: "When you look at the Bath team we were up against you have to say that today was a good chance to pick up three points. It was two big points dropped.
"We know we have to get players back into doing jobs and back into getting results."
Former manager Peter Morris was again watching from the stands and seen in the vice-presidents lounge increasing speculation that he could be back at the club in the near future.
The only plus point for Lynn was the performance of midfielder Jason Minett, who made his first appearance since January after a loan spell at Stockbridge Steels.
In the third minute Tommy Wright took a free kick from the right and Minett glanced a header over the bar.
The Linnets' third good chance of the first 10 minutes came off the scalp of Dave Robinson from an Adie Hayes corner, but the ball was headed off the line by Darren Kemp. Bath's first attempt came from a Jason Drysdale's free kick, which he drilled wide of Steve Wilson's right post after 18 minutes.
Lynn's pressure eventually paid off in the 29th minute when Paul Watts bravely nodded past a defender and the Bath keeper following Wright's chip into the box.
The Romans immediately struck back by equalising in the 31st minute when Adrian Foster punished Hayes for failing to clear his lines.
On the stroke of the interval, Mark Hervin pulled off a fine point blank save to deny Wright.
The second period was a scrappy affair and the home crowd's frustration grew as Lynn struggled to take the game by the scruff of the neck.
In the 72nd minute substitute Jamie Clarke missed Lynn's best chance of the half, and the game, when he fired well over the bar when clean through in the box.
The Romans gradually grew in confidence as the half wore on.
After missing two good chances, Bath's appeals for a penalty were waved away in the 83rd minute after Foster was clearly pushed over by Glen Fuff in the box.
Lynn: Wilson, Dakin, March, Robinson, Fuff, Minett, Anderson (L. Hudson 83), Hayes, Watts, Clements, Wright (Clarke 45). Sub not used: Welsh.
Bath: M. Hervin, G. Kemp, J. Drysdale, G. Thorne, C. Towler (M. Badman 27), P. Milsom, M. Hale (J. Gosling 64), A. Foster, D. Gilroy (G. Smart 60). A. Williams.
Att: 597
| MATCH STATISTICS | Shots on Target | Shots off Target | Corners | Caught Offside | Free kicks Conceded |
Bookings |
| Lynn | 3 | 5 | 6 | 2 | 15 | - |
| Bath | 3 | 4 | 6 | 9 | 19 | - |
| Lynn News Man of the Match - Jason Minett Report by permission of the Lynn News | ||||||