King's Lynn 1 Wealdstone 0
28th April 2007
A MUCH-changed Linnets side ended their regulation season with victory at a sun-basked Walks on Saturday.Matt O'Halloran's second-half strike separated the two teams in an entertaining final match of the season.
Linnets boss Keith Webb, who rang the changes with the club's first play-off game just around the corner, said: "It was important that we got a result so we could go into the play-offs in a positive frame of mind.
"The boys who came in did very well, while we looked very solid at the back against one of the form teams of the division."
With Lynn having sealed third spot with their midweek win over Team Bath and Wealdstone safe from the drop, both sets of supporters provided a carnival atmosphere.
Webb left key players Matt Nolan, Michael Frew, Mark Camm, Scott Howie and Mark Warren on the bench.
His tinkering left Mark Heath-Preston with his first full Southern League start, partnering Danny Bloomfield up front.
Wealdstone hot-shots Robinson and Papali both broke through a tight home defence, in which both Hammond and Crane were outstanding.
Lynn's best efforts fell the way of Greg Crane, who blazed over after Bloomfield's shot had been blocked by a Wealdstone defender.
A Crane header was then thwarted by Mitch Swain in the Wealdstone goal in the 32nd minute. Both Charlie Defty and Heath-Preston also had half chances in a first period in which Lynn bossed possession.
Eight minutes after the interval Lynn made the all-important breakthrough when Bloomfield crossed for O'Halloran, who sliced his shot into Wealdstone net.
Lewis Blois' cross was then pushed away for a resurgent Lynn and O'Halloran's follow-up attempt was hacked off the line by Lee Chappell.
Substitute Michael Frew then saw his effort hit the underside of the bar and come out, before Mark Camm saw his shot palmed away by Swain after a rare burst into the box from the midfielder.
In the closing stages, Marshall produced acrobatic saves to deny both Graeme Montgomery and Olhseyi Adegoite an equaliser.
Lynn: Marshall, West, Blois, Hammond, Crane, Fisk (Camm 71), O'Halloran, C. Defty, Heath-Preston (Frew 71), Bloomfield, Gould.
Subs not used: Warren, Howie, Nolan. Goal: O'Halloran (53).
Wealdstone: M. Swain, L. Chappell, J. Carbon (O. Adegoke 70), C. Martin, G. Hall, D. Clark (S. Martin 76), J. O'Toole (S. Donnelly 60), C. O'Leary, T. Robinson, D. Papali, G. Montgomery. Not used: A. Delisser, L. Wooldridge. Booking: O'Leary.
Referee: M. Chester (Lincs) Attendance: 823. MoM: Danny Hammond.