King's Lynn 2 Southend United 0

Daniel Gay was one of few who impressed against his hometown club.

Southend, who as it said in the local newspaper promised to send a full first team to The Walks, actually sent a reserve side in which manager Rob Newman selected himself.

No matter how weak the United side was however there was absolutely no excuse for the abysmal performance that followed. The match can be summed up by the fact that pathetic Southend could not even muster a single shot on target against the Dr Martens Eastern Division side, in actual fact they only managed one effort off target in the whole ninety minutes.

Lynn, who dominated the match from start to finish actually looked quite a handy side and created their first chance after nine minutes, Rio Alderton eventually charging down Adam Weston's shot.

In what was a fairly quiet opening period the next opportunity, on 19 minutes, saw the home side take the lead. Carl Holmes found plenty of time and space to slot the ball into the path of Weston who, completely unchallenged slipped the ball past Daniel Gay with apparent ease from the edge of the penalty area.

Two minutes later Lee Hudson connected onto a long ball forward before shooting straight at Gay from an angle 15 yards out before Holmes rolled a shot just wide following a neat knock-back from Lee Stephenson.

Southend created a half chance on 27 minutes, but Lynn goalkeeper Tom Dobrowolski gathered the balll at the feet of Anthony Clark before the young midfielder was able to capitalise on Daniel Webb's flick on.

King's Lynn really should have doubled their advantage on 36 minutes, fine goalkeeping from Gay blocked Stephenson's shot on the edge of the area before the tall striker smacked the loose ball straight back into the arms of the Shrimpers custodian with the goal gaping. The first half came to a climax when Stephenson completely miskicked Lee Cowling's right wing cross, the ball falling comfortably into Gay's hands.

Anthony Clark huffed and puffed but couldn't really create any openings.

The manager took himself off at half time, and things certainly got no better for Southend although they did manage their only effort at goal in the first minute of the second half, Neil Jenkins rolling a shot well wide of the left hand post following a neat run.

Andrew Stanhope shot just wide from long range on 47 minutes before, in the 59th minute, came the worst miss anyone will ever see at a football match. Paul Watt's left wing cross had Gay beaten and floundering a long way out of his goal as the ball fell to the feet of Chris Bacon, six yards from goal with absolutely no option but to score. Inexplicably the Lynn striker somehow managed to hit the bar and then reacted so slowly that Gay and Flory Zinga managed to clear the danger. A truly amazing miss and in all fairness the only highlight of the match for United supporters amongst the crowd of 437.

David Staff turned provider for Paul Watts on the 70 minute mark, but despite taking the ball past Gay, Watts could only lob the ball just wide of the far post from what was a fairly tight angle. Staff then drilled a shot inches wide three minutes later.

Daniel Lunan was given a full 90 minutes.

The home side finally doubled their lead ten minutes from time, John Brown's clumsy challenge on Holmes inside the area conceding a penalty which Holmes himself confidently tucked away, sending Gay the wrong way in the process.

Three minutes later the Shrimpers could possibly have had a spot kick of their own when Mark Salter appeared to be pushed by Glen Fuff, but by that stage United really had given up hope of getting on the scoresheet. Needless to say play soon switched to the opposite end, with Gay in top form, brilliantly pushing Weston's half volley around the post before the resulting Staff corner flashed across the face of goal with Wayne Anderson inches away from toe poking the ball into the net.

Gay did well once again to pluck the ball from the feet of Bacon in the final minute before United were finally put out of their misery at the sound of the final whistle. Perhaps all that can be said is that there is most certainly room for improvement...

KING'S LYNN:- Tom Dobrowolski; Andy Jones, Lee Cowling, Adam Weston, Glen Fuff; Joby Gowshall, Andrew Stanhope, Paul Raynor, Carl Holmes; Lee Stephenson, Lee Hudson. Used subs - Simon Nobes, Martin McNeil, Wayne Anderson, David Staff, Chris Bacon, Paul Watts.

SOUTHEND:- Daniel Gay; Stephen Broad (Flory Zinga 52), Neil Jenkins (Paulo Martins 61), Daniel Lunan, Rob Newman (John Brown 46); Rio Alderton, Stuart Thurgood, Anthony Clark, Paulo Martins (Ben Price 32); Daniel Webb, Mark Salter.

Mark Wallis
www.thelittlegazette.com