King's Lynn 5 Chesham United 1
28th August 2004
THE Linnets responded perfectly to the previous nightmare week's two defeats in a game that had everything.Tony Battersby and Carl Holmes bagged braces, however Lynn suffered three injuries, while Steve Wilson controversially earned his third red card in Lynn colours, the most by a Walks keeper.
It must be some years since The Walks outfit sustained three first half injuries, all requiring substitutions.
First was Gary Setchell (hamstring). His replacement Danny Hammond (ankle ligaments) lasted just 16 minutes, then Lee. Stevenson (lateral right knee damage, the same injury as Jack Defty) was stretchered off.
The former two will be out for around two to four weeks.
Co-manager Kevin Boon said: "We got the reaction we wanted and answered the critics on what these boys are capable of. We need that commitment for 40 weeks.
"People think we can win every week - only Arsenal can do that.
"Mark Angel showed what he can do - we hadn't got the ball to him in the last two games.
Tony Battersby's work-rate was fantastic, Carl Holmes was fantastic, and my man-of-the-match was Craig Fishlock, with the goal he made for Carl.
"Adam Jones, who was a centre-back at Mansfield, did really well."
Previously-unbeaten Chesham - who on this evidence did not merit their second place in the table as of Saturday - were hammered and were indebted to keeper Bradley Hughes who made a string of good saves, starting with a block from Mark Angel in the second minute.
But three minutes later Danny Bloomfield outsprinted a harassed home defence and cut the ball back for Battersby to sidefoot home.
Away skipper Peter Clifford (just past his own post), Bloomfield and Holmes (who hit the post) went close with headers for Lynn before Chesham broke down the right, Gary Sippetts played in Carl Herron to score a soft goal.
But Lee Stevenson and Mark Camm soon set up Holmes, whose effort this time went in off the post, to restore the advantage before the break.
More chances came and went for Lynn before a move involving Angel, Fishlock and Camm resulted in Battersby sending a superb header into the top corner ten minutes into the second half.
Then Battersby turned provider for Holmes, who has as good a leap as anyone, to nod in his brace.
The game was over on 72 minutes when Bloomfield pressured keeper Hughes and his clearance rebounded into the net off defender Stuart Hole.
Chesham had little in reply, their only late attack being when Nathan Bowden-Haars jumped on Wilson, who had claimed a high ball.
Wilson pushed him off, and both were sent off in the resulting melee.
"The lad had just tried to do Steve, Willo has reacted but not in a wild way and has got penalised," said joint boss barren Bloodworth on the sending-off.
"The official said Willo kicked him in the chest, which I didn't see, and said if he'd just laid there, there would have been no red card. It does give young Aaron (Osborne) a chance.
"We've been given injury problems early doors but the lads who came on did well."
Defender Daryl Sutch took over between the posts but had no problems in the remaining minutes.
Lynn: Wilson, Camm, Sutch, Burrows, Setchell (Hammond 22 Jones 38), Fishlock, Holmes, Stevenson (Harris 42), Battersby, Bloomfield, Angel. Subs not used: Bacon, Osborne.
Goals: Battersby 5, 56; Holmes 37, 63; Hole o.g 72.
Chesham: Hughes, Sweeney, Hole (Davies 74), Hall, Clifford, Bowden-Haars, Yates, Aderowale (Fotheringham 61), Sippetts, Lawford, Herron (Richardson 64). Not used: Sinclair, Jackson.
Goal: Herron 35.
Att: 802.
Referee: A. Jones (Skellingthorpe, Lincs).
| FACTfile | Shots on Target | Shots off Target | Corners | Caught Offside | Free kicks Conceded |
Bookings/Sent Off |
| Lynn | 11 | 6 | 10 | 1 | 9 | Wilson 77  |
| Chesham | 5 | 2 | 3 | 7 | 13 | Clifford (53, foul) Bowden-Haars 77 |
| Lynn News Man of the Match - Carl Holmes | ||||||