King's Lynn 0 Worcester City 1
25th March 2000
LINNETS lost to an injury time winner in a poor game at home to Worcester City which neither side deserved to win.Plus points were rare in a typical end-of-season match which looked to be heading for 0-0 until the final minute.
“It was not a very good game and neither side deserved to win,” said Lynn manager Gary Mills.
“It’s a 90-minute game and I’m disappointed to lose it that way. I think it was their only shot on target and it came with the last kick of the game.”
Dave Robinson slotted back effortlessly in defence – where he has not played since January because of his emergency striker role – after returning from a three-game suspension.
“Dave did brilliantly, he’s a quality player,” added Mills.
After a quiet first 20 minutes, the dangerous Darren Bogan caused havoc in the middle of the City defence and pulled back for Emeka Nwadike to blaze over.
Nwadike squandered another chance when he beat the offside trap and, shrugging off the close attention of a defender, shot wide.
All Worcester had to show was Steve Lutz heading straight at Chuck Martini.
Top scorer Mark Owen was City’s main threat in the second half, and Martini had to rush out of his area to beat him to the ball after the forward sprung Linnets’ offside trap.
Lynn’s lack of attacking options was highlighted by Lyndon Rowland coming off in favour of Ross McNeil, who made his first team debut.
McNeil finished off the most impressive move of the match – which involved Nwadike, Craig Clark and Bogan – but the youngster was unlucky as his goal-bound shot was headed clear for a corner by Mark Tucker.
Two minutes into injury time, with Simon Dakin thrown forward, City took advantage to cross into the home box.
McNeil missed the ball and John Deakin fired a simple chance past Martini as Lynn’s worst losing streak of the season reached three games.
Lynn: Martini, Dakin, Spearing, Robinson, Fuff, Clark, Nwadike, Bogan, Turner, Rowland (McNeil 66),Bogan, Puttnam. Subs not used: Anderson, Suiter.
Worcester: Watson, Sandeman, Jukes, Tucker, Weir, Heeley, Knight (Hyde 90), Cottrill (Purdie 86), Owen, Lutz, Deakin. Subs (not used) Frost.
| MATCH STATISTICS | Shots on Target | Shots off Target | Corners | Caught Offside | Free kicks Conceded |
Bookings |
| Lynn | 1 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 7 | |
| Worcester | 4 | 2 | 3 | 10 | 12 |
Lynn News Man of the Match - Dave Robinson