Rothwell Town 1 King's Lynn 2
26th December 1997
A BOXING Day brace from Steve Williams helped the Linnets start their festive programme with a bang. And with Jason Pascoe, a second half substitute for the injured Tony Spearing, making his return off the treatment table, the Linnets had double cause for celebration after recording their first victory in five games."We deserved to win after dominating most of the match and a great deal of credit must go to the players who continued to try and play football on such a disgraceful surface," said manager Peter Morris after the game. "The only disappointing aspect was we took our foot off the pedal after taking a two goal lead."
Lynn dominated the first half passage of play, as they had against Forest Green six days earlier, without creating so trinity clear-cut chances in front of goal.
Craig Hopkins, Richard Skelly and Williams all missed half chances in the first 45 minutes against a very direct and physical Rothwell side who had five players booked during the 90 minutes.
Lynn deservedly took the lead in the 53rd minute and it ironically came after the home side had tried to play some football of their own following their negative tactics of the first period.
Lee Hudson dispossessed John Coe just inside his own half before racing down the right and sweeping over a cross to Williams on the edge of the home penalty area.
Williams played a slick one-two with Brett McNamara inside the box before cheekily dummying Danny Liquorish in the home goal and firing home.
Fifteen minutes later, McNamara beat the Rothwell keeper to an overhit Hudson pass on the left side of the home penalty area. McNamara squared- the ball to Williams whose original shot was cleared straight back into the path of' McNamara who returned the ball in an instant for Williams to score at his second attempt.
Both McNamara and Hudson missed further chances to put the game well beyond Rothwell's reach before Kevin McGuire-netted a consolation for the home side after catching Hopkins asleep following Andy Kirkup's long ball over the top.
This set up a nerve jangling 15 minutes, for the Linnets and their supporters but they held on despite a late scare or two to claim the three points. Lynn: Hollman, Matthews, Skelly, Hoyle, Ellis, Spearing (Pascoe 49), Hopkins, Cotterell, Williams, McNamara, Hudson. Subs (not used) Delicata, Lewis.
Rothwell: Liquorish, Orton (Tallantire 71), Hercock, Keast, Simpson, Bullimore, Kirkup, Coe (McGuire 64), Marshall (Finlay 57), Foley, Lord
| MATCH STATISTICS | Shots on Target | Shots off Target | Corners | Caught Offside | Free kicks Conceded |
Bookings |
| Lynn | 7 | 6 | 3 | 5 | 12 | Cotterell (81) |
| Rothwell | 3 | 5 | 3 | 6 | 27 | Coe (24) Orton (33) Lord (81) McGuire (81) Kirkup (81) |