Bashley 1 King's Lynn 2
29th March 2003
CALL it an inspired new signing or just a stroke of genius from manager Peter Morris, but whatever it was new boy Mark Paul made a fairytale return with both goals for Lynn.In a thoroughly engrossing contest between two sides who were clearly both out to win, the Linnets pulled off two feats of notable achievement.
They not only became the first team this season to record the double over the New Forest club, but also became the first side to inflict a league defeat at Bashley Road on Barry Blankley's outfit since January 19, 2002.
And the drama couldn't have been scripted better, with pacy striker Paul - returning to Lynn after playing for them in 1998 - making his entrance in the 64th minute with the Linnets 1-0 down.
It had been the sort of game where one goal looked likely to be decisive, but the latest recruit had other ideas.
A mere 60 seconds after springing from the bench, with his first touch Paul - who made a reputation as a 'supersub' in his first Walks spell took advantage of a defensive error as Dave Wakefield only half-cleared to volley a right foot beauty into the far corner of the net.
In the first half in-form Craig Davis headed over for the hosts, while at the other end David Elm superbly saved from David Staff.
A combination of Lynn keeper Steve Wilson and the bar denied skipper Darren Robson's ooping header.
Davis had given Bash the lead early in the second period with an exquisite finish from a move by Richard Gillespie and Wakefield.
A share of the spoils would probably have been a fair outcome, but in the third minute of injury time, Wilson broke up a Bash attack with one of several competent catches in goal throughout the after noon, and with an enormous kick he launched the ball to the opposite end of the pitch, into the path of Paul once more.
Paul suddenly found himself in acres of space with just Elm to beat, which he did with supreme confidence to spark off the Norfolk celebrations.
There were seven booked by an inconsistent referee in a game which was not dirty in the slightest.
Lynn: Wilson, Hollyoak, Blois Burrows, Fuff, Defty, Woodrow (Paul 64), Raynor, Bacon (Stevenson 87), Staff, Holmes. Subs not used: Weston, Nobes, Jones.
Bashley: Elm, Connally, Anstey, Robson, Jones, Cook, Gee, Davis: Sales, Gillespie (Gibbons 76), Wakefield. Not used: Quirks, Sturmey, James.
Bookings, Linnets: Defty, Raynor, Paul; Bashley: Connolly, Anstey, Jones, Sales.
Referee: Andrew Turner (Exeter). Att: 201.
Lynn MoM: Mark Burrows.