King's Lynn 2 Ilkeston Town 2
26th December 2000
LINNETS came from behind twice thanks to -a brace from the in-form Lyndon Rowland to draw on Boxing Day.The striker notched his ninth and tenth goals of the season as Lynn hosted Ilkeston for the second time in a week.
Rowland scored an outrageously cheeky back-heel which would have graced the Premiership - and added a Premiership-style celebration and converted a late penalty to complete his transformation from zero to hero.
Last season fans were jokingly singing "We've got the worst forward in the league."
But now the big striker is a cult fans' favourite.
With Rowland allied to Jon Palmer, caretaker manager Tony Spearing has the scorers but, as a defender himself, he says he wants to tighten up a defence which is the league's joint worst with Clevedon.
"We started flat and got better but we're giving away sloppy goals," said Spearing. "In the last 180 minutes the opposition have had three chances and scored."
Emeka Nwadike should have done better when twice beating the offside trap.
But in a good spell the Robins went ahead on 18 minutes. Mark Clifford's searching through ball bamboozled Craig Clark and Rob Gould shot past Chuck Martini.
Just before the break, on loan 'Derby keeper Gerard Doherty saved at Tommy Wright's feet, Nwadike got the loose ball but Chris Timons blocked his shot.
After Lynn had many half chances, Dave Robinson received a quick throw from Simon Dakin and Rowland, running away from goal, back-heeled home the cross with his right foot on 57 minutes.
Linnets looked like winning but were caught with a sucker punch. Clifford broke away, hit the post and Jamie Clarke followed up the rebound.
With five minutes left, Rowland latched on to an Adie Hayes long ball and was going nowhere when Timons foolishly hauled him down.
Rowland made no mistake with the penalty high to the keeper's right.
Spearing added that the vacant manager's post would not be sorted out until the club finishes dealing with its debts.
Lynn: Martini, Dakin, Clark, Robinson, Fuff, March (Spearing 66), Nwadike, Hayes, Bush (Gibson 66), Rowland, Wright. Sub not used: McNeil.
Ilkeston: G. Doherty, R. Gould, J. Whitehead, C. Timons, P. Challinor, M. McKenzie, M. Clifford, J. Knapper, I. Helliwell, J. Clarke (A. Kiwomya 83), P. Eshelby. Not used: A. Todd, P. Williams.
Att: 670.
| MATCH STATISTICS | Shots on Target | Shots off Target | Corners | Caught Offside | Free kicks Conceded |
Bookings |
| Lynn | 6 | 3 | 5 | 2 | 12 | |
| Ilkeston | 5 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 14 | Tlmons (39, handball) |
| Lynn News Man of the Match - Lyndon Rowland | ||||||