Crucial win in 1975 at Kings Lynn

Fifty years ago in March 1975 AP Leamington faced ‘their biggest test in recent weeks when they travel to Kings Lynn – a side whose consistency during the last three months has catapulted them on to the fringes of the promotion race.  The Norfolk club, like Brakes, are enjoying a successful spell – and in the last 17 games they’ve only been beaten on three occasions. 

AP manager Jimmy Kmox acknowledged yesterday that the game will be tough: “Obviously, it will be hard one.  But they will all be hard from now on. “ Despite Ivor Talbot’s fine game in midweek for the Youth outfit against Leicester Boys’ Clubs – where he scored both goals – Knox is likely to name an unchanged side, providing all players report fit in the morning.  It’s surely this ability to keep a winning side together that has much to do with Brakes’ surge up the table.’

The Kings Lynn paper reported: ‘On Saturday Lynn met a team who matched them stride for stride – and that hasn’t happened very often.   It was Leamington who struck the killer blow in the closing minutes with the winning goal which gave them two points to continue an amazing surge up the Southern League table. While there can be criticism of Lyn n’s overall performance, nothing should detract from Leamington’s play.  They did not get rattled when falling behind to an early goal, but continued chasing and harrying Lynn into mistakes.

In particular Leamington pulled midfield men Boot and Lee into wide positions to keep an eye of Lynn wing men Easthall and Reynolds.  Not very often did Lynn get behind the defences to test reserve keeper Garrett.  It was in the first quarter of the game that Garrett did look shaky.   In the seventh minute he made a nervous attempt at punching a low centre from Rudd.  The ball went straight to Lindsay whose shot was blocked and when Reynolds tried his luck, Garrett finger tipped the ball away for a corner.  

Lynn did take the lead in the 12^th minute with a penalty following a handling offence.  Then it was Leamington’s turn and there were anxious moments in the Lynn goalmouth before Boot slotted in a 21^st minute equaliser with a high low shot.’   Garrett made an impressive reflex save and ‘Any nerves the goalkeeper may have had before now disappeared and he gave a competent display for the rest of the game.    Centre half Brown was booked for a foul on Rudd.   The longer the game progressed the more unhappy Lynn seemed to get in their inability to score.  The points seemed to be shared until Brown went up for a 87^th minute free kick rom Lee which he met with a powerful header which sizzled into the net.’

In the following week Jimmy Knox announced that he was shelving his ‘controversial rota system for goalkeepers Dave Jones and Dave Garret.  Knox is happy with both goalkeepers.  “Jones has the advantage of far greater experience and in recent matches he has played better that at any previous time with the club.   But Dave Garrett is a tremendous prospect.   It is difficult to separate then but that is a problem I am prepared to live with.  I am lucky to have such strength in a key position.”   Ironically, Jones was out of the reckoning due to injury.’