Lynn bubbling after Bath
King's Lynn 1, Team Bath 0Jack Defty's goal midway through the second half ensured home advantage in the play-offs as Lynn dominated this match with fellow promotion hopefuls Team Bath at The Walks.
King's Lynn 1, Team Bath 0
Jack Defty's goal midway through the second half ensured home advantage in the play-offs as Lynn dominated this match with fellow promotion hopefuls Team Bath at The Walks.
The big striker's tap in, following neat approach play from Matt Nolan and Mark Camm, was applauded warmly by ex-manager Tommy Taylor who was watching the match from the comfort of the directors box as a guest of the club.
Current boss Keith Webb had to make do without the services of injured duo Michael Frew and Steve Melton, but was able to call upon captain Mark Warren and Matt O'Halloran after both had completed three-match suspensions.
The Linnets started at a good tempo with Jamie Gould's centre being met by O'Halloran who fired wide and moments later the same player was wide again following Jack Defty's knock-down. Gould then fired a free-kick over Darren Chitty's bar and on 35 minutes the busy O'Halloran forced Chitty into a diving save close to his near post following another Gould pass.
For Bath chances were at a premium with Matt Williams and David Bailey being well shackled by the returning Warren and the equally impressive Greg Crane.
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Nolan's low drive at the beginning of the second spell had Chitty down sharply at his near post and on 53 minutes Nolan was at it again as he lobbed the advancing keeper only to see the ball roll agonisingly inches wide of the unguarded goal.
Minutes later Nolan broke free of the Bath defence and as he was about to pull the trigger from close range was pulled to the ground by the desperate Gonzalo Pereira. Referee Paul Barnes had no hesitation and pointed directly to the spot.
Nolan picked himself up and drove the resulting kick directly down the centre of the goal which saw a diving Chitty save the effort with his trailing leg to keep the score level. Finally the home side did take the lead with a quality move. A quick pass and move routine involving Nolan and Camm exchanging passes with the latter presenting the chance for Jack Defty to side foot home from two yards. Charlie Defty was introduced for O'Halloran and his first touch of the ball saw him place a header at the over-worked Chitt.
Late on fellow sub Mark Heath-Preston put a scorching drive over the bar but in the end it didn't really matter with the Linnet's safe in the knowledge that a date awaits them at The Walks next Tuesday which gives them a chance to bury the memories of last season's disappointing semi-final exit.
King's Lynn: Howie, West, Blois, Warren, Crane, Fisk, O'Halloran (C Defty,76), Camm, J Defty (Bloomfield 84), Nolan (Heath-Preston 86), Gould.
Subs: Bloomfield, C Defty, Hammond, Heath-Preston, Marshall.
Team Bath: Chitty, Townley, Lock, Abbott, Pereira, Metitiri, Canham, Saunders (Dillon 43), Williams, Bailey (Lopes 79), Waters
Subs: Dillon, Lopes, Tillson, Cooper
Referee: P Barnes, Peterborough
Attendance: 785
