King's Lynn 1, AFC Telford 1
Paddy Davitt Telford won the toss and set Lynn to kick-off attacking the Tennyson Road end on a pitch that had easily passed an early-morning inspection and looked in excellent condition.
Paddy Davitt
Lynn's on loan defender Luke Graham rescued a deserved Blue Square North point today at The Walks against title-chasing AFC Telford.
The Kettering full back bundled home his second goal of the week on 86 minutes in the final appearance of his current loan stint. Andy Brown's fortunate deflected strike six minutes earlier looked set to stretch the Linnets winless league run to eight matches.
Keith Webb's men were full value for the point after Bucks' stopper Ryan Young pulled off two wonder saves either side of the interval to deny Julian Joachim and Jack Defty.
You may also want to watch:
Webb made one enforced change to his starting line up from the New Year's Day draw against Gainsborough Trinity. Mark Camm replaced Ben Chapman (flu) - stand in skipper Adam Smith slotting in at full back.
Defty was named on the subs' bench after missing the Trinity draw with a chest infection. Bucks' skipper Gavin Cowan upended Joachim in an early skirmish. Camm intelligently picked out Michael Frew with a sharp reverse ball but Young grasped his cutback.
Most Read
- 1 City lodge complaint to EFL over match officials conduct during Luton Town defeat
- 2 Paddy's Pointers: Luton Town 3 Canaries 1
- 3 Paddy Davitt: City player ratings against Luton Town
- 4 Norwich City able to access £8.33m loan after Premier League agree EFL bailout
- 5 Bullish Farke unhappy at defending and key calls in Luton defeat
- 6 'A perfect storm' - Fans have their say as injuries finally take their toll on Canaries
- 7 Luton 3-1 City: Tired Canaries come up well short
- 8 What do the new Brexit rules mean for Norwich City?
- 9 Iwan Roberts: I've never seen an injury crisis like Norwich City's before
- 10 Skipp calls for City to be smarter after Luton defeat
Joe Francis dropped to the ground on seven minutes clutching his left groin before an ugly spat erupted in the Linnets' penalty box involving Bradley Thomas and Cowan during the break in play.
Cowan reacted furiously after Thomas gripped the Bucks' defender in a head lock while the duo jostled for position ahead of a Telford free kick.
Referee Atkin consulted his assistant once order had been restored but settled on a lecture to the warring protagonists.
Defty was introduced before the restart with Francis hobbling out of the action - Frew re-deployed in Francis' vacant wide left role.
Scott Howie confidently pounched Danny Carey-Bertram's fierce strike. Frew's low free kick struck the Telford wall after Indy Khela upended Scott Mitchell.
Frew's speculative cross sailed behind after a sustained bout of Telford possession had pinned back Webb's men.
Greg Crane diverted Khlea's piledriver after Thomas needlessly conceded a visiting corner. Young denied Joachim with a stunning tip over on 42 minutes from Smith's teasing inswinging free kick - the Bucks' stopper flicking Joachim's low glancing header up and over his bar.
t Half-time: King's Lynn 0, AFC Telford 0
Lynn kept the visitors waiting on the restart - Thomas leading the hosts back a full five minutes after Telford's entrance.
Liam Blakeman scuffed off target from 20 yards. Young acrobatically foiled Lynn again on 61 minutes with a flying one-handed save to claw away Defty's rocket.
Joachim's strike on the run flew wide as Lynn pushed the title chasers onto the back foot. Young raced out to block Joachim again after the ex-Premiership hitman held off Khlea before Andrew Fisk tested the over worked Bucks' stopper from long range.
Luke Graham threw himself in front of Cowan's snapshot before Jimmy Turner's muscular challenge on Frew sparked a heated debate between the two opposing dug outs.
Carey-Bertram collapsed under Thomas' shove inside the penalty box but referee Atkin waved away muted spot kick appeals as Howie led home protests.
Carey-Bertram latched onto Danny Edwards slide rule cross but lifted over six yards out with only Howie to beat in Telford's best chance of the contest.
The abrasive Turner was cautioned for a clip on Joachim on the edge of the Telford box - Smith's curler always sailing over.
Carl Rodgers' back post header smacked Brown to put the visitors in front on 80 minutes - the ball flying past the stranded Howie six yards.
Graham dragged Lynn level with time running out - crashing John Turner's cut back home from blank range with Lynn pouring men into the Telford box. Defty's flying header in stoppage time hit Cowan with Lynn hunting a belated winner.
t Result: King's Lynn 1, AFC Telford 1
t King's Lynn: Howie, Graham, Camm, Thomas, Crane, Smith, Fisk, Mitchell (Turner 68), Frew, Joachim, Francis (Defty 10). Subs (not used): Peters, Weaver, Murray.
Booking: Smith
Goal: Graham (86)
t AFC Telford: Young, Turner, Meredith, Cowan, Khela (Naylor 72), Blakeman, Adams (Edwards 59), Vermiglio, Carey-Bertram, Brown, Moore (Rodgers 59). Sub (not used): Fearns.
Bookings: Carey-Bertram, Turner
Goal: Brown (80)
t Added on time: 2 mins / 3 mins
t Referee: R Atkin (Scunthorpe)
t Attendance: 932
