Folkestone 1 King's Lynn 0
28th April 1985
THE LINNETS saw their Southern League title hopes fade away with this defeat at Folkestone on Sunday.Rivals Cheltenham, who heard the result while they were still playing beat lowly Trowbridge 2-0 and are now firmly in the driving seat.
Cheltenham need just two victories from fixtures against Gloucester (away), Fisher and Alvechurch (both at home) to clinch promotion to the Gola League. Lynn, away to AP Leamington on Saturday, can only wait and hope for some surprise results.
After the excitement of Saturday's win over Willenhall, the Linnets disappointingly failed to raise their game at a bleak and bumpy South Coast ground.
The first ten minutes gave rise to hopes of success as Kevin Ready and Martin Coupe both went close and the referee surprisingly waved play on when Tim Gale stumbled through a reckless challenge in the penalty area. Mid-way through the half Martin Twigger hit the bar with a powerful header, but by this time Lynn's attacks were infrequent and misdirected.
Folkestone were pushing forward in numbers and it was hardly surprising when they took the lead in the 44th minute and Rocky Fusco's low free kick was unfortunately glanced into his own net by the diving Freddie Easthall.
Although Clive Adams forced the ball into the net in the 67th minute the effort was disallowed for pushing on the keeper and all the time Folkestone were looking more confident.
Finally in the lust ten minutes Lynn did show more cohesion, but in quick succession shots from Gale, Hines and Wood flew wide of the target.
Folkestone: Munden; Smart, Fusco. Hill, Plews, Wilson, Hamshare. Allan. Cogley (sub Collins 73 mins), Bean. Jolley.
Lynn: Claxton; Mercer. Adams. Wood, Easthall; Gale, Foster, Hines; Ready, Coupe, Twigger; sub Ippolitto.