Nuneaton 1 King's Lynn 2
28th December 1970
Who would have believed it? Lynn lose at The Walks on Boxing Day then go to Nuneaton on Monday and score their first away win of the season.And although the scoreline may indicate a close game Lynn were well on top throughout and were full value for their win.
They will now face January's tough league programme of four away matches with more confidence. And if the Boxing Day result had been similar a lot of those relegation fears would have been dispelled.
Big difference in the two games with Nuneaton was that at Manor Park, Lynn made the chances and at last took a couple of them.
No wonder David Clarke had a dance of joy when he headed in Lynn's first - it was their first league goal in over 250 minutes of football.
Playing a neat 4-3-3 system Lynn looked solid in all departments especially in midfield where they held control for most of the match.
Here Wright and Brooks with always one forward in support dented Nuneaton hopes of a Christmas double. Their keen tackling and fine distribution eased the workload of the defence and at the same time kept the home side under pressure.
Defensively Lynn had one of their best games of the season. Nuneaton managed only a couple of goal chances through dangerman Tony Jacques - and he scored from one of them.
Little wonder that the terraces were almost deserted at the end as disgruntled fans left early.
The Nuneaton fans were given a warning of what was to come when Lynn tore the home side apart in the first half. It was a pleasure to watch as Lynn made light work of the heavy conditions.
Shots by Oliver who got in a lot of work in mid-field and Wright kept Fred Crump busy in the first few minutes. Then Jones headed over the Nuneaton defence to Clarke but his angled shot was blocked.
It was 17 minutes before Nuneaton could manage a shot, a speculative 25-yard effort from Boot which Steel watched over the bar. three minutes later Steel watched anxiously as Jacques burst through and shot across the face of the goal with no forward up in support.
The remainder of the half was virtually Lynn's as they kept Nuneaton pinned down with Wright and Ricketts getting the best chances and narrowly missing them.
Seven minutes into the second half Lynn should have taken the lead. Rudd put Clarke through on the left with a perfect pass and as the low centre came over Jones ran in unmarked. He controlled the ball but with the goal at his mercy sliced his shot ten yards wide.
But even after this let-off Nuneaton could not get into the game. For a short spell they showed more fight in mid-field although Steel had little clearing up to do behind the solid defensive wall Lynn were putting up.
The opening goal came in the 64th minute after Oliver had been fouled twice going down the right wing, From the second free kick Radcliffe sent over a penetrating cross which Clarke timed well to head in.
A few minutes later Clarke was off the field for treatment after a collision with Crump. They had gone for a 50-50 ball after Rudd had missed a chance from close in.
Lynn showed no intention of resting on a one goal lead and after more efforts had shaved the Nuneaton goal Jones added the second in the 88th minute. Brooks picked up a shocking cross-field pass from the Nuneaton defence and shot against the bar for Jones to get the rebound and steer his shot in.
A minute into injury time Jacques evaded the close attentions of Robinson and Porter as he ran on to Cutlers through pass to score his third goal against Lynn in two matches.
Mickie Bloxham was Lynn substitute fro the game bit the former Yarmouth player did not have a chance to make his league debut. Nuneaton: Crump, Jones, Kavanagher, Harris, Wilkinson, Goodall, Smith, Allen, Jacques, Boot, Billingham (Sub. Cutler)
Lynn: Steel, Ricketts, Radcliffe, Robinson, Porter, Brooks, Wright, Oliver, Jones, Rudd, Clarke (sub: Bloxham)