Ilkeston Town 3 King's Lynn 4
23rd September 2013
Just when you think they are down and out, this King's Lynn Town side keep on bouncing back.
Going into the game on the back on three successive defeats and finding themselves 3-2 in arrears and down to ten men, following the controversial dismissal of defender Ryan Clarke, few people gave Lynn a prayer in the remaining minutes at the New Manor Ground.
But late goals from Dan Jacob and Ewan Clarke saw the Linnets pull off the unthinkable - though in truth it was no more than they deserved.
You wouldn't have thought Lynn were a side lacking in confidence from the way they started.
Their pace and energy caused problems for Ilkeston from the off as they got in behind the defence on numerous occasions.
George Thomson was just wide from distance in the opening two minutes and Jacob was denied by an excellent Ellis Storey tackle shortly afterwards.
At the other end, Joe Maguire headed James Reid's corner against the outside of the post as the Robins eventually woke up.
The hosts took the lead on 22 minutes, somewhat against the run of play, when Reid's free-kick out wide was turned in by Gary Ricketts six yards out.
It didn't last long as the Linnets hit straight back.
Three minutes later the dangerous Andy Hall got down the right and his ball into the six-yard box was diverted into the net by Rob Duffy.
A quick turnaround was complete three minutes later, Thomson receiving the ball on the edge of the penalty area and seeing his shot deflect over keeper Rob Peet and into the roof of the net.
Lynn should then have been out of sight when Hall lobbed Peet on 34 minutes but his fine effort came back off the crossbar.
Kane Richards and Ricketts both missed chances to level before the break, but immediately after it came the first controversial moment of the game.
Antwan Russell burst into the penalty area before ex-Ilkeston Town man Ryan Clarke denied him with a perfectly-timed tackle.
Not so, deemed referee Luke Watson, who pointed to the spot, and sent Clarke to the dressing room before Aaron Webster netted the spot kick.
Russell blazed too high moments later but then chances dried up for a while in what merely turned out to be the calm before the storm.
Twelve minutes from time it looked like Ricketts had won the game, superbly turning his man before finishing well past Alex Street to put the Robins back in front.
But Lynn, who had initially done well to block out the Robins despite their numerical disadvantage, wanted their share of the points back - and ultimately ended up with the lot.
Two minutes after Ricketts' goal, Jacob turned Mike Williams on the edge of the box before firing a stunning shot into the far corner of the net.
Webster then appeared to have clearly been fouled in the penalty area but Mr Watson this time decided against giving the spot-kick.
Moments later Lynn stunned the hosts with the winner as Jacob broke down the left and passed to an unmarked Jason Lee whose totally mis-hit shot was directed into the net by ex-Eastwood man Ewan Clarke and the visitors celebrated in some style.
Nine minutes of added time, at least four more than were expected, were more than enough for Mr Watson to baffle everyone again.
The man in the middle gave Ilkeston a free-kick just outside the penalty area when Reid had clearly been fouled four yards inside it, but a draw would ultimately harsh on the Linnets who fully deserved their third win on the road this season.
Lynn: Alex Street, Ryan Clarke, Jordan Yong, Jason Lee, Phil Gulliver, Gary Mills, Andy Hall (Valter Fernandes 50), Dan Quigley, Rob Duffy (Sam Mulready 70, Ewan Clarke 77), George Thomson, Daniel Jacob. Subs not used: Steve Spriggs, Ryan Fryatt.
Att: 425. Report by permission of the Lynn News