Ashford 0 King's Lynn 3
28th February 1998
STRIKER Steve Williams put his penalty miss against St Leonards behind him by scoring Lynn’s second goal during Saturday's win in Kent.
And, after the game, the Linnets leading scorer. appealed to supporters for their full support for the remaining 12 matches of' the season with promotion to the Conference still a distinct possibility.
"The support this season has been excellent and we need as much backing as we can possibly get, for what is a crucial part of our season," said Williams, who refused to criticise some supporters for the barracking he received following his miss from the spot a week earlier.
"A few of us have been struggling with flu just of late and until today I had been very disappointed with some of my personal performances.
"You always get praise as a striker when you are hitting the back of' the net but when you don't it's not long before people are on your back."
Arid with the eagerly anticipated Merthyr clash less than a week away Williams added: "Next week's game is a real six-pointer and all the players want to give a better- reflection of themselves than we did at their place earlier in the season".
Saturday's result was never in doubt against a lacklustre Ashford side who will clearly struggle to stay up. The Linnets gave a far better account of themselves than in recent matches, looking solid at the back and giving a more determined display over the rest of the field.
Manager Peter- Morris sprang one surprise going into the game, handing Duncan Roberts his debut between the posts in place of the out of form James Hollman who was relegated to the substitutes' bench.
The young keeper responded with an encouraging display, making one inspired save in particular with the score at 1-0.
"Duncan handled it very well, he's, a big lad and comfortably dealt with the crosses in the box" said Morris, who had no qualms about leaving Hollman on the bench:
"James had fallen below the standards that he had set and I felt that I needed to change things around."
Lynn came within inches of taking the lead after two minutes when Williams hooked Martin Matthews' corner wide of the post.
But The Walks outfit didn't have to wait too much longer before taking the lead in the 15th minute.
Brett McNamara was grappled to the floor on the edge of the box by Graham Porter and Leo
Cotterell struck home the resulting free kick with a carbon-copy strike of the goal he scored at Sittingbourne.
McNamara was then the victim of a nasty clash of heads 17 minutes before the break which saw him stretchered off the field. Luckily for the Linnets the striker only required butterfly stitches after visiting the local hospital.
He will be checked at training tomorrow night, as will Craig Hopkins who came off with sore calf.
Three minutes into the second half Roberts, who was gaining more confidence as the game went on, made a diving save at the feet of Paul O'Brien after the Ashford midfielder had turned Kevin Ellis.
That save enabled Lynn to double their lead in their next attack, after 50 minutes when
Williams headed home Jason Pascoe’s cross from the right.
A superb ball through the middle by Hopkins found Lee
Hudson 20 minutes from the end before the striker outpaced a home defender and rounded the keeper to fire the ball home for Lynn's third.
Seconds, from the end the post made sure that Lynn kept a clean sheet but apart from that effort Ashford were rarely a threat when venturing into Lynn's half.
Morris added: "It keeps the season alive. And it's the big one on Saturday."
Lynn: D Roberts, Matthews, Cotterell, Hoyle, Ellis, Spearing,
Pascoe, Hopkins (Delicata 79), Williams, McNamara (G Roberts 28), Hudson. Subs
(not used) Hollman.
Ashford: Munden, Bower (Miller 51), Ross, Porter, Scott,
Donn, Eeles, O'Brein,Chambers, Harrison, King (Griffiths 51).
MATCH
STATISTICS | Shots on
Target | Shots off
Target | Corners | Caught
Offside | Free kicks
Conceded |
Bookings |
Lynn | 3 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 16 |
Hopkins (foul, 83)
Williams (dissent, 45)
Matthews (foul, 69) |
Ashford | 0 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 13 |
Ross (45, dissent),
Munden (45, dissent)
O'Brien (58, foul)
Donn (73, dissent) |