King's Lynn 4 Stamford 0
28th March 2005
Linnets striker Danny Bloomfield bagged a Bank Holiday brace yesterday.Bloomfield was on target with his 23rd and 24th goals of the campaign to keep Lynn's slim play-off dreams alive for another week and virtually condemn a sorry Stamford side to the drop.
Lynn showed two changes from the side that succumbed to Histon on Easter Saturday.
Robbie Harris came in for the injured Darran Hay; while Stephen Harvey replaced David Staff, who also picked up a knock against the Stutes.
Stamford arrived at The Walks with two former Linnets in their starting line-up: Carl Holmes and Gary Butterworth.
The first chance of the match came Lynn's way in the tenth minute as Bloomfield's header struck the post after a fine centre from the lively Harris.
Two minutes later Mark Angel delivered a cross from the left only for Jack Defty to place his header straight into the grateful arms of keeper Darren Watts.
The Walks outfit were running their visitors ragged at times and midway through the half they deservedly took the lead when Bloomfield atoned for his earlier error, heading home Danny Hammond's pinpoint delivery.
Three minutes later Gary Setchell picked out Harris, who timed his run perfectly before doubling the lead with the easiest of finishes. The Lincolnshire outfit's first effort fell to James Rowe who forced Steve Wilson into an acrobatic stop in the 28th minute.
Wilson was called upon again to tip an Ossie Mintus header as the Daniels threatened to haul themselves back into the game.
But following that brief spell of pressure, Lynn put the game beyond their reach ten minutes before the break when Defty picked out Harvey with a delightful pass for the defender to notch his first senior goal for the club.
After half-time it took the Linnets all of three minutes to add to their tally when Bloomfield slotted home his second off the body of Watts following a defence-splitting pass from Angel.
Five minutes later James Rowe made a mockery of Hammond's positioning but somehow contrived to slice his shot wide.
Midway through the half Harris played in Matt O'Halloran only for the winger to fire his shot straight at Watts.
The remainder of the derby produced few talking points, although Bloomfield blazed high and wide in the 86th minute as his hat-trick beckoned.
Substitute Ludovic Quistin displayed some nice touches and the youngster tested Watts with a vicious 20 yard drive in the dying seconds.
Lynn: S. Wilson, Harvey, Setchell, Clark (J. Wilson 60), Hammond, Camm, O'Halloran, Defty, Harris (Bacon 75), Bloomfield, Angel (Quistin 65). Subs not used: Blake, Higgs. Goals: Bloomfield 21, 48; Harris 25; Harvey 35.
Stamford: Watts, Green (Slinn h-t), Peach (Chapell 68), Mintus, Gordon, Holmes, Nash, Butterworth, Thompson (Ainslie 37), Rowe, Steadman. Not used: Gibb.
Referee: G. Hambling (Blofield Heath, Norfolk).
Attendance: 904. MoM: Stephen Harvey.
| FACT file | Shots on Target | Shots off Target | Corners | Caught Offside | Free kicks Conceded |
| Lynn | 7 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 9 |
| Stamford | 3 | 3 | 6 | 0 | 13 Report by permission of the Lynn News |