King's Lynn 1 Rushden 0 (aggregate 2-0)

29th August 1983

Linnets striker Martin Coupe scored his second goal in 10 days against Rushden Town to put his side comfortably through to the next round of the Southern League Cup.
His 71st minute individual effort broke the deadlock in a dull second leg tie at The Walks, on Bank Holiday Monday.
Lynn applied most of the early pressure, and the powerful front running of Kabia and Coupe created a number of half-chances.
With Linnets manager Keith Rudd looking for more width to the attack, Watts, Wiles and McJannet all took a turn on the touchline to stretch the Rushden defence.
That left Easthall with space in midfield, but he appeared to have left his shooting boots at home as most of his efforts finished high and wide.
The visitors seemed to rely on the counter attack to create what few scoring chances came their way, but lack of strength in numbers usually proved their downfall.
Lynn should have taken the lead from a spot kick in the 42nd minute when Timlin clearly handled whilst under pressure from Garwood.
However, the incident occurred on the blind side of the referee, and after a long hard look at his linesman, who indicated no foul, he waved play on.
A minute from the break, Kabia had a shot well saved by the Rushden keeper after a quick turn on the end of an Allen cross.
The second half started as the first had finished, with Lynn having most of the possession but unable to turn their superiority into goals.
Slow handclapping broke out from one section of the crowd in the 71st minute, but this was soon silenced by a brilliant goal from the impressive Coupe.
He latched on to a through ball from midfield, shrugged off a clumsy challenge and lobbed the ball over the advancing keeper from the edge of the area.
Lynn then had another penalty appeal turned down when Timlin was once again the villain, chopping down Kabia at the end of a jinking run into the box.
In the end Lynn were worthy winners, but their failure to score when given so much of the ball must be a worrying factor. Lynn: McPherson, McJannet, Wiles, Watts, Mercer, Foster, Easthall, Kabia, Allen, Coupe, Garwood. Sub: Johnston.
Attendance: 430.