King's Lynn 2 Nuneaton 4
26th August 1998
Linnets’ new strip was on display for its home debt but a distinctly off colour second half condemned Lynn to defeat.
However, it was a controversial goal which turned the match. Nuneaton - at 2-1 down - benefiting from a dubious offside decision. And when Mickey Nuttell limped off Linnets lacked focus up front.
And six goal conceded in two game s left manager Tony Spearing slamming his defence.
“I’m not happy with it at all, it’s given me something to think about. Hopefully we’ll have Glen Fuff back in a couple of weeks.”
He said the game was like a scene from the film The Good, The Bad and the Ugly. “I thought we were magnificent in the first 45 minutes, but they got back into it with a doubtful goal. Losing Mickey was a blow - we lacked power up front.”
Within 30 seconds of the start Nuttell headed over and later nodded on to the bar but Lynn’s problems were illustrated by Borough’s opener. With the defence static, Malcolm Christie broke down the right and pulled back for Barry Williams to score.
A champagne moment five minutes later brought the equaliser. Leo Cotterell won the ball, exchanged some one-twos with Worrell Sterling and shot into the bottom corner.
Ian Stringfellow crossed for Cotterell to head his second.
Linnets’ control of the match went with Christie’s disputed goal. The move which led to it looked miles offside but the flag stayed down.
Midway through the second half the unmarked Williams headed his second from a Christie cross and in injury time sub Kevin Wilkin completed Lynn’s misery.
Lynn: Lewis, Wright, Puttnam, Hilton, Hoyle, Spearing, Sterling, Oakes (G Roberts 75), Nuttell (Hardy 45), Cotterell, Stringfellow. Subs (not used) Gibson
Nuneaton: R Williams, Everitt, Prindiville, Statham, B Williams, Angus, Wray, Simpson, Christie (Wilkin 86), Muir (Thomas 58) Gardner. Sub (not used) Anderson
| MATCH STATISTICS | Shots on Target | Shots off Target | Corners | Caught Offside | Free kicks Conceded |
Bookings |
| Lynn | 7 | 4 | 6 | 3 | 11 | |
| Nuneaton | 7 | 1 | 4 | 6 | 11 | Gardner (25, foul) |