King's Lynn 2 Chippenham Town 3
30th October 2004
Tommy Taylor has warned his Linnets players to expect the axe if they fail to perform over the next three weeks.The new boss issued the deadline after defensive errors gifted a home defeat to league leaders Chippenham during his first game in charge.
His team looked to have settled well after a quiet start when Adam Jones got a final goalline touch to a Carl Holmes header from a Craig Fishlock corner on 34 minutes.
But the lead was quickly surrendered when Lynn's back line stood waiting for the flag as Chippenham played through them.
Striker Scott Walker accepted the early Christmas present and slotted the ball past a helpless Steve Wilson four minutes before half-time.
It did not take long for them to take control and Jones' goal followed some good play, including a Bloomfield shot.
But before the equaliser Lynn were lucky to escape, Holmes nodding off the line from Gary Thorne's header.
Then after the leveller Chippenham's number ten, James Constable, got a run at goal.
The Linnets' back four did just enough and the striker's oscar-winning fall in the area was greeted with jeers from the home fans.
After the break Lynn looked worth the win but Chippenham stole the lead against the run of play when Constable nodded home at close range on the hour.
Taylor rolled the dice by bringing on Lee Stevenson and Chris Bacon - only the second Lynn player after Craig Hopkins to come off the bench 50 times - with 20 minutes remaining.
The gamble paid off almost immediately when Stevenson smashed home a ball Bloomfield flashed across the face of goal.
However, Lynn fell behind again thanks to a decisive goal on 77 minutes after a Chippenham throw-in 40 yards from goal was allowed to be taken ten yards further forward than it should have done.
The visitors had a man spare and unselfish play from Walker left defender Rene Regis free to tap home the winner.
The Linnets responded well and could have equalised within minutes but David Staff saw his header from Holmes' cross tipped over the bar.
Defty was brought on to replace Holmes with six minutes to spare and in the final minute Lynn were awarded a dangerous free kick ten yards outside the Chippenham box.
Stevenson's strike fizzed towards goal but Lynn were denied a deserved point with a great save from the busy Mark Hervin.
Lynn: Wilson, Jones, Setchell, Clarke, Hammond, Holmes (Defty 84), Camm, Fishlock (Bacon 70), Staff, Bloomfield, Angel (Stevenson 70). Subs not used: Blake, Higgs. Booked: Fishlock (52, 'handbags').
Chippenham: Hervin, Regis, W. Thorne, G. Thorne, Charity, McEntegart, Wilmot (Herring 80), Horgan, Paul, Constable, Walker. Not used: Allison, Davidson, Astley.
Booked: McEntegart (21, foul), Constable (45, dissent), Horgan (52, 'handbags').
Goals: Walker (42) Constable 59), Regis (77).
Referee: M. MacPherson (Cambs). Attendance: 778.