Southport 2, Kings Lynn 1

Martin Davis

King's Lynn slipped to a league defeat at Southport in Blue Square North this afternoon despite taking an early lead through Michael Frew.

From their winning line-up of last week at Hucknall, King's Lynn made two changes to the starting line-up for their visit to the Lancashire coast to meet Southport in the Blue Square North League.

It was the first time since 1983 that the Linnets had visited Haig Avenue.

They were hoping to continue from where they had left off in April 1983 when a Keith Rudd goal had secured the points for the Linnets.

Keith Webb gave young Dominic Dwyer, who has been scoring regularly for the Reserves a place on the bench, while John Turner was to lead the line in place of the suspended Jack Defty.

With Adam Smith injured, Mark Camm was given the number 11 shirt in preference to Joe Francis in a slightly more defensive line-up.

When Weaver went down after a challenge from Daly, who in turn found McGinn, who put Duffy away on the flank for a dangerous cross which was headed away by Lynn skipper Crane.

Weaver was down injured but was able to resume after treatment.

Duffy for Southport won the first corner of the game from Ben Chapman, and took the kick from which Flynn's header was deflected for a second corner, headed away by Graham.

After a handball by Michael Frew, again Duffy took the kick to see centre forward Daly head in but his effort was ruled out for off-side.

For Lynn, Mitchell took a free kick and the ball came out to Duffy who curled the ball to bring a great save at the near post by Howie.

Lynn took the lead in the eleventh minute, when an attempted clearance was headed back by Mark Tann to Frew, who beat a defender and scored with a cross-shot with the aid of a strong deflection of a Southport defender.

Lynn continued to press and force a corner to Frew who chipped the ball in for Crane to try a header, which was cleared to the back of the box for Mitchell to power a volley just over the bar.

On sixteen-minutes, Southport were level when Duffy beat his defender, who cut inside, passed to Daly who side-footed an easy goal passed the helpless Howie.

On twenty-one minutes, Southport took the lead when leading scorer Kilheeney cut inside a defender having received the ball from Duffy to beat Howie, with a low shot just inside his near post.

Crane had to head away a dangerous ball at full stretch from McGinn's cross as Daly challenged. McGinn had a shot from distance go only inches wide as the sand grounders continued to find time and space to specially mark Duffy who had been a threat throughout the half to the limits.

Just before the interval Scott Mitchell was cautioned for a foul.

t Half-time: Southport 2, Kings Lynn 1

First action saw strong home penalty appeals turned away by referee Knowles after McGinn had been brought down.

Lynn made a substitution after 55 minutes with Francis replacing Sedgemore.

Lynn had obviously had a good talking to at half-time as they were competing more and not allowing Southport so much space.

Lynn forced a corner, their third of the game but it was headed over by Weaver.

Southport's Kilheeney was cautioned for encroachment at a free kick on the hour mark.

Following a good build up by Southport who won their fifth corner, the kick by McGinn allowed Flynn a free header but he put his effort over the cross bar. Connelly for Southport was forced to concede a corner after Joachin had broken away.

A scramble on the line had developed after a header from Weaver was blocked by the defence. The ball eventually cleared for Southport to breakaway only to be halted by an off-side flag. For Lynn Crane was cautioned for dissent after seventy-minutes.

Good work for Southport from Duffy saw the Lynn tormentor cross for McGinn to test Howie with a crisp header. Southport now made a double substitution replacing Dale and Kilhenney with Robinson and Tony Gray.

After a ricochet off Robinson broke for the home player he caused Howie to have to race from his goal to hack the ball clear.

Southport now made their final substitution with Barnes replaced Robinson who had to retire with a cut eye.

From a free kick Connelly on turner, Frew's long kick Crane was adjudged off side as he attempted a header on goal.

Good defending by Graham at the expense of a corner relieved pressure after McGinn had broken clear on the Southport left flank.

Lynn made their final substitution on 82 minutes when Bloomfield replaced Turner.

From Lynn's fifth corner taken by Francis, Macmillan in the Southport goal punched clear allowing Southport to break quickly and threaded the Lynn goal but Chapman got a cross to make a good tackle to cover the danger.

Just before the end a lengthy stoppage ensued which resulted in Chapman also going into referee Knowles's notebook after a foul was called on Mark Duffy.

t Result: Southport 2, Kings Lynn 1

t King's Lynn: Howie, Graham, Chapman, Weaver, Crane (Captain), Sedgemore, Frew, Mitchell, Turner, Joachim, Camm.

Subs: Bloomfield, Francis, Dwyer, Murray.

t Southport: McMillan, Lee, Lever, Flynn, Connolly, Moogan, Duffy, Howell, Daly, Kilheeney, McGinn,

Subs: Shaun Gray, Davis, Robinson, Tony Gray, Barnes.

t Ref: Mr J Knowles.

t Attendance 853