kingvfolk170104

Flanaghan's late leveller denies unstoppable Linnets

King's Lynn 1-1 Folkestone Invicta
Saturday 17 January 2004
Dr Martens League Eastern Division
Richard Murrill reports from The Walks

An injury time equaliser from centre half Adam Flanagan gave Folkestone Invicta a valuable point away to second-placed King’s Lynn in Saturday’s big Dr Martens League Eastern Division fixture at the Walks.

King’s Lynn had won of their previous 11 home league matches this season and had ended the unbeaten runs of title rivals Tonbridge Angels and Histon with 4-1 victories.

And it looked though the Linnets were going to claim another significant three points in front of a bumper 1,0004 crowd courtesy of an extremely well-taken 58^th minute free kick from Dave Staff.

But Invicta stuck to their task amidst the incessant rain on a heavy pitch and were rewarded deep into injury time when FLANAGAN got the decisive touch as he bundled the ball over the line amidst a crowd of players when Paul Lamb whipped in a free kick from the right.

The free kick had been awarded for a bad foul by Jamie March on substitute John Ayling which earned the King’s Lynn left back a yellow card and gave Invicta one last throw of the dice.

The visitors had only really emerged as an attacking threat during the closing ten minutes after they had thrown on substitute Ayling to support James Dryden.

Up until then Invicta had crowded the midfield, with Anthony Hogg playing just behind lone striker Dryden to compensate for the absence of injured top goalscorer Allan Tait.

And it was working well enough for Neil Cugley’s side until STAFF broke the deadlock with an exquisite free kick which left goalkeeper Tony Kessell rooted to the spot after Gary Setchell had initially stepped over the set piece following a foul right down the middle just outside the Invicta penalty area.

The goal came after King’s Lynn had put Invicta under sustained pressure at the start of the second half.

Lamb was there to clear off the line when a corner from the right eluded Kessell after 55 minutes and Kessell made an outstanding one-handed save a minute later when he got down to his left to keep out Staff’s header when Dale Watkins chipped the ball into the middle from the right hand side.

But even Kessell could do nothing to keep out Staff’s free kick.

Invicta had a chance to equalise after 65 minutes, but Dryden was forced too wide and could only shoot into the side netting when goalkeeper Steve Wilson slipped after a Kessell clearance had gone over the home defence.

The visitors replaced debutant new signing Peter Overton, who recently made four appearances, scoring once in the Ryman League for Bromley,  and loan signing Tim Hambley after 71 minutes and introduced Martin Chandler and Ayling as they sought a way back into the game.

Ayling remains arguably the most dangerous substitute at this level and set up a chance after 81 minutes when he skipped past two challenges after right back Adam Jones had missed a Kessell clearance, but Dryden could only shoot at Wilson.

King’s Lynn defender Setchell was booked for cynically bringing down Dryden after 84 minutes when the striker raced away from him after captain Scott Lindsey put him through following a Flanagan clearance.

Invicta finished the game with three forwards as Lee Blackman replaced Mark Munday after 86 minutes and they saved the day when March’s rash challenge on Ayling was punished by Flanagan’s last-ditch equaliser.

Mark Camm, King’s Lynn new signing from Lincoln, had earlier shaved the outside of the post when he cut in from the left after 15 minutes.

Staff shot tamely at Kessell after 21 minutes when the ball fell to him in the middle following a great tackle by the again excellent John Guest.

At the other end, a low Hogg shot was blocked by March after 29 minutes.

Kessell came out bravely to save from Staff on the half hour mark and big Jack Defty headed just wide following a cross from the right after 35 minutes.

Invicta’s Drew Watkins was booked on the hour mark.

King’s Lynn introduced new signing Alex Notman, a former Manchester United youth and Norwich City player whose arrival has made headline news in the town. But it was the visitors who were to finish the game by far the happier with the result.

KING’S LYNN: Wilson, Jones, March, Setchell, Fuff, Raynor, Defty, Holmes, Staff (Harris 74 mins), Watkins (Notman 58 mins), Camm.  Unused subs: Woodrow, Bacon, Nobes.

FOLKESTONE INVICTA: Kessell, Watkins, Lamb, Flanagan, Guest, Lindsey, Hambley (Chandler 71 mins), Munday (Blackman 86 mins), Dryden, Hogg, Overton (Ayliong 71 mins).  Unused subs: Everitt, Egan.

 Attendance: 1,004.

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