Long Buckby 1 King's Lynn 5
30th August 2003
THE Linnets booked a first round home qualifying tie with Stewarts and
Lloyds of Corby after comfortably overcoming a potential banana skin at UCL
hosts Long Buckby.Three goals in the last seven minutes saw the Linnets ease through, but the outcome was never in doubt from the first whistle.
Peter Morris' side dominated from the outset and had enough chances to build up a score which wouldn't have looked out of place on the neighbouring cricket pitch. Five different players got their name on the scoresheet as Lynn camped in Buckby's half for long periods.
Despite being in control, Lynn only had one goal to show for their first half superiority and that came from substitute Shane Huke, on for the injured Richard Woodrow, who lashed home from 25 yards in the 35th minute.
Before then, Lynn had carved open the Buckby defence time and time again only to miss bags of chances.
Mark Burrows and Chris Bacon headed wide, before Bacon produced a contender for the miss of the season when he sidefooted the ball wide from six yards with the net begging to be hit.
Buckby's slowness at the back was exploited by Richard Skelly, who put in cross after cross, two of which were headed wide by Jack Defty.
The home side's only real chance of any note came in the 17th minute when John Crockett spotted Steve Wilson off his line before his chip had the Lynn keeper back-pedaling only to float over the bar.
Lynn doubled their lead four minutes after the restart when Skell's cross was nodded home by Harris from point blank range.
The Linnets remained on top, but the large contingent of travelling supporters had to wait until the 83rd minute for the third goal when Harris, a constant thorn in the Buckby side, crossed for Ndekwe to confidently volley home.
Two minutes later it was Defty who rose above the Buckby rearguard to head in a Raynor centre.
Bacon ended his barren spell in front of goal in the 89th minute when his header trickled over the line off the post.
The only blot on a copybook performance came in the dying seconds when the aptly-named Paco Box guided a header over Wilson. Long Buckby: K. Woods, R. Crockett, R. Lewenden (P Box 41), R. Kimbell, K. Espin, T Barrett, I. Wilkinson, J. Crockett, N. Fretwell (C. Townsend 68), S. Rudge, K. Harrad (R. Newboult 54). Subs hot used: N. Cowlishaw, J. Thomas.
Lynn: Wilson, Glarvey, Skelly (Jones 70), Burrows, Fuff, Daffy, Doughty (Ndekwe 70), Raynor , Bacon, Harris, Woodrow (Nuke 3i). Not used: Hyde and Higgs.
Attendance: 205.
Referee: Mr P McCaul (St Ives). MoM: Robbie Harris.