King's Lynn 1 Crawley Town 0
30th October 1999
FOR Lynn manager Gary Mills, the manner of victory was just as important as Linnets gaining their first win in six games.In an uninspiring match at times, Mark Turner scored a vital goal for the second game running to become Lynn's top marksman this season with six strikes.
"We worked very hard for the result," said Mills. "There were a lot of good performances. That's what I wanted. I wanted the lads to show a lot of desire and commitment."
Lynn also secured their first league clean sheet for seven weeks in a reshuffled 3-5-2 formation, Simon Dakin in the unfamiliar position of centre-back with Glen Fuff and Tony Spearing, while Mills and Steve McGinty were wing-backs.
"Simon did very well there and when he switched there at Havant I thought he also did well," added Mills.
The hard-working Tony Marsden, in his first start since September 4, set an example as captain - making it Lynn's fourth skipper in four games.
As early as the seventh minute, Dave Puttnam beat the offside trap and centred for Turner to shoot over from 20 yards. Puttnam was soon denied in a one-on-one situation.
Lynn had a scare as Chuck Martini flapped at a cross and Swedish under 21 international Soren Ludberg headed just over. Martini, who started having a Dracula of a game - scared of crosses - redeemed himself with a good diving save from former Wisbech player Andy Taylor.
Mills went close when his swirling ball had away keeper Mark Little back-pedalling and it just missed the target. The excellent Fuff headed over a corner by Puttnam, who then could not beat Little in a one-on-one following Taylor's mistake.
Early in the second half, the Reds' Francis Vines nodded wide of a gaping goal, while on the hour Chris Cleaver nearly marked his Lynn debut with a goal. Puttnam put him through, but the forward's effort curled inches wide of the far post.
Crawley were denied in a five minute spell as both Mills and Spearing cleared off the line.
But Lynn hit back as Emeka Nwadike laid off to Puttnam, whose inviting cross was lashed into the top corner by Turner.
Soon after, Cleaver broke down the right and shot narrowly across goal.
The hosts should have doubled their advantage as Marsden chipped a lovely ball to Cleaver, who pulled it back and Puttnam forced an astonishing reaction save.
With two minutes remaining the Reds had a glimmer of hope as a long-range free-kick caught the wind, but Martini acrobatically rose to tip it over.
Lynn: Martini, Mills, McGinty, Dakin, Fuff, Spearing, Turner, Nwadike, Cleaver, Marsden, Puttnam. Subs (not used) Palmer, Clark, McNeil.
Crawley: Little, Best (Brake 72), Payne, Taylor, Ugbah, Johnson, McAree, Lovett (Wackett 87), Vines, Glasgow, Ludberg. Sub (not used) Goss.
| MATCH STATISTICS | Shots on Target | Shots off Target | Corners | Caught Offside | Free kicks Conceded |
Bookings |
| Lynn | 4 | 8 | 5 | 6 | 16 | |
| Crawley | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 12 | Vines(74 foul) |