King's Lynn 2 Clacton Town 0
30th March 1964
THE Linnets included a surprise new signing for yesterday's return Southern.League match against Clacton at the Walks.
He was 27 year old Roy Banham, the former Peterborough player, who was signed from Bedford yesterday morning and registered only an hour before the kick off.
He was in his second season with Bedford and was brought in to replace John Laurel. And with Roy Proverbs suffering a knee injury, manager Len Richley moved Mick Wright to full back and brought in Bobby Lumley at left half.
Lynn set the pace from the start and goalkeeper Wright was quickly in action. He turned over the bar a deceptive lob from Bacon, who later provided some fine crosses, from one of which King and Donovan had shots blocked.
Fighting hard to establish an early lead, the Linnets had Clacton struggling. The visitors conceded several free kicks and were lucky to see a Donovan shot fly to safety off a defender.
Surviving 15 minutes of almost continuous Lynn pressure, Clacton began to hit back. They forced a corner and Walls saved a header from Meagher.
Lynn replied with a slick raid in which Williamson was brought down in the penalty area. Appeals for a penalty were ignored and as the ball ran loose Bacon chipped it into the middle where King headed just over.
Lynn went ahead after 25 minutes. Edwards swung over a long centre from the right and Donovan's header was dropped by Wright for KING to move in quickly and score. Minutes later, a Donovan, Partridge, Edwards move gave King an opening but Wright dived to make a good save.
However, in the 30th, minute K1NG put Lynn 2 up, gliding the ball home following successive through passes from Williamson and Donovan.
Lynn frequently had Clacton in dificulties inside the penalty area but were unable to clinch a further goal.
Playing close, Lynn gained few chances on the resumption until King tested Wright with a rousing drive. Then Partridge, moving through the middle, was well tackled at the edge of the penalty area.
Clacton, tackling hard and moving the ball strongly, tried a number of long shots but these were invariably off the target.
Play became generally very scrappy, but in a few moments of gaiety Lynn were unlucky not to score. Lumley hooked the ball into the goalmouth but Donovan's shot was kicked off the line by Leach. Later Donovan had another shot brilliantly saved by Wright and Bacon missed a great chance by shooting wide.
However, Lynn lacked their usual poise, the forwards never moving with the speed and precision which brought so many earlier victories. Lynn: Walls: Baker, Wright: Williamson, Banham, Lumley: Bacon, Edwards, Donovan, King, Partridge.
Attendance: 1,640.