King's Lynn 1 Ilkeston 1
24th August 1999
LINNETS snatched a point from under the noses of the visitors with a dramatic last-gasp equaliser.
In the third minute of injury time Dave Robinson popped up to score against his old club.
Lynn were heading for their first home league defeat this year following a first half Ilkeston goal, and it looked to be a night of frustration. But their persistence paid off.
Linnets boss Gary Mills said: "It was another game we should have won. We were the better side.
"But I was pleased how we kept going right until the end."
In the tenth minute, Lynn wasted a glorious chance to go ahead. Lee Wilson charged down Paul Esbelby's free-kick, ran the length of the pitch and centred, but away keeper Andy Love saved at the feet of Dave Puttnam Robinson hit the top of the bar from Puttnam's corner.
At the other end Chuck Martini parried an EsheIby shot, but the Robins soon went ahead halfway through the first period.
Paul Raynor sent a free-kick into the Lynn box, the defence hesitated and Moore stole in to slot home in the far corner.
Linnets were furious when a penalty appeal was turned down as Wilson went down under a challenge.
Puttnam had two half-chances early in the second half, when Lynn enjoyed eight corners, but could not breach a well-organised defence.
Just before the hour Wilson broke down the right and his shot flashed across goal.
Mills sent himself on and with a quarter of an hour left, Lynn had two prime opportunities in the space of a minute. Wilson turned his marker, Dean Fearon, and his rasping effort was tipped around the post. Then Puttnam's wicked volley swerved just wide at the last second.
Ilkeston should have made it safe as a weak Craig Clark back-pass let in Moore, but Clark recovered to tackle-back brilliantly.
With Lynn desperate as time ran out, Mills sent in a testing free-kick which Robinson bullet-headed home to the joy of The Walks fans.
Lynn: Martini, Dakin, Spearing, Robinson, Clark, Marsden, Turner, Goss (Mills 59), Taylor (Keeble), Wilson, Puttnam. Sub (not used) Fuff.
Ilkeston: Love, Ludlam, Wright, Middleton, Fearon, Knapper, Eshelby (Clifford 80), Hurst, White, Moore (Alsop 90), Raynor. Sub (not used) Helliwell.
| MATCH STATISTICS | Shots on Target | Shots off Target | Corners | Caught Offside | Free kicks Conceded |
Bookings |
| Lynn | 6 | 6 | 11 | 3 | 13 |
Clark (15, fighting) Dakin (72, not retreating) |
| Ilkeston | 3 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 22 |
White (15, fighting) Wright (33 foul) Fearon (45, foul) |