King's Lynn 0 Hucknall 0
28th February 2009
THE Linnets missed a golden chance to complete their first-ever Blue Square North double after playing out a uninspiring goalless draw against Hucknall.
There was little goalmouth action in 90 minutes of awful football and you had to feel sorry for the poor fans, whose only crumbs of comfort came in the shape of youngsters Dominic Dwyer and Ross Kelly in the second half.
And it could have been worse for Lynn but for the returning Scott Howie, who made a couple of smart saves between the Lynn posts to deny the basement club all three points.
The result ended a run of three successive defeats for Hucknall at the bottom of the table, while it was draw specialists Lynn's 15th draw of the campaign.
On Lynn's second goalless shocker of the season (the other coming against Burscough before Christmas) Linnets boss Keith Webb said: "It wasn't a pretty performance.
"Hucknall made it difficult for us by playing a sweeper and we just couldn't break them down.
"I still can't fault the players though as they are continuing to give me everything after what has been a tough few weeks."
On the performances of Dwyer and Kelly, Webb said: "They did very well when they came on, showing a lot of enthusiasm and desire.
"They came on and had nothing to lose. They were a positive, as was the clean sheet. Scott Howie justified my decision to bring him back into the side."
Hucknall's Laurie Wilson volleyed over on the half-hour mark, while top-scorer Danny Bacon was denied by the legs of Howie before the follow-up was scrambled away.
Lynn's best effort came from Joe Francis, who saw his 30-yard free-kick well saved by visiting goalkeeper James Lindley.
The second half didn't get any better - until the late introductions of reserve players Dwyer and Kelly.
Howie was on hand to produce the best save of the game in the 70th minute when he tipped Wilson's goal-bound effort away for a corner.
Dwyer breathed new life into a lifeless Linnets performance.
He caused numerous problems to the Hucknall defence during his brief cameo on the pitch.
The youngster dispossessed Gary Sucharewycz before playing in Jack Defty, who blazed wide when well placed.
There was still time for Dwyer to test Lindley late on, but his effort was well dealt with by the Hucknall goalkeeper.
Lynn: Howie, Graham, Smith, Peters, Thomas, Camm (Kelly 83), Frew (Dwyer 76), Johnson, J. Defty, Francis, Mitchell (Fisk 67).
Subs (not used): C. Defty, Murray.
Bookings: Graham, Peters.
Hucknall: Lindley, Walters, Spriggs, Meikle, Timons, Sucharewycz, Wilson, Wiggins-Thoms (Baxter 76), Ricketts, Bacon, Liburd.
Subs (not used): Ward, Mitchell, O'Brien, Kettle.
Bookings: Spriggs, Wilson.
Referee: M. Griffiths (Yorks).
Attendance: 921.
MoM: Scott Howie.
Stats, Lynn first: shots on target 2, 4; off target 5, 3; corners 5, 5; offside 1, 5; free-kicks conceded 16, 17.