Hednesford Town 0 King's Lynn 2
26th August 2001
NEW signing Louis Evans made a dream Linnets debut on Saturday to condemn title favourites Hednesford to their third successive defeat in a 2-0 scoreline. Evans, signing by manager Tony Spearing from Hitchin on Friday, climbed off the bench to score a late second and confirm King's Lynn as early Dr Martens Premier Division leaders. The former Peterborough United midfielder took just five minutes to open his league account after replacing Wayne Anderson in the 86th minute. "I never wanted Louis to sign for any other club in the first place and remained in touch with him," said Spearing. "He tried his hand at both Cambridge and Hitchin but he didn't like it and wanted to sign for us. "Louis has signed on a non-contract basis, but if he does well there is no reason why we can't offer him a better deal."
Spearing was delighted with the win, and said: "As soon as I walked out onto the pitch and saw the surface I knew we would turn Hednesford over. I thought we were awesome."
King's Lynn got off to the perfect start for the second successive Saturday, when Lee Hudson glanced home a Jason Minett free-kick with less than a minute on the clock. Hednesford did give the Linnets a few anxious moments but goalkeeper Steve Wilson and his dependable defence rarely looked like conceding.
Wilson acrobatically tipped over former Linnet and home boss Paul Raynor's free kick in the 17th minute, but more importantly kept out a Paul Bagshaw effort with his feet with the score still at 1-0 in the 87th minute.
The Linnets did have other chances. March drilled wide with just the home keeper to beat six minutes before the break, and Rowland was also guilty in a similar position ten minutes into the second period. The home side had been reduced to ten men eight minutes into the second half when Stuart Lake was sent off for his second bookable offence after a late tackle on Rowland.
Hednesford: Gayle, Simpson, Lucas, Lake, Harran, Owen, Lancashire (Airdrie 60), Craven, Francis, Davis (Bagshaw 65), Raynor (Curtis 87).
Lynn: Wilson, Dakin, March, Robinson, Fuff, Clark, Anderson (Evans 86), Hayes, Rowland, Hudson, Minett. Sub not used: Eldridge.
Bookings:
Pitmen: Lake 21 min, sent off 53 (fouls), Craven 77 (foul), Raynor 78 (foul).
Linnets: March 21 (foul), Rowland 60 (encroachment).
Att: 731.