History repeats itself

Almost fifty years ago to the day at the end of January 1973 King’s Lynn faced Lockheed Leamington at home and the Lynn Advertiser reported on the game.  ‘This was much better, Lynn.  Stung by the memory of two successive home Southern League defeats, the team shook Lockheed with some entertaining football.  The Linnets got a confidence-boosting early goal and from then did not look back as they recorded their first Southern League double of the season and their first league win of the New Year.

On the day, Lockheed were not good opposition, but with 12 points from 14 away games including wins at Cheltenham, Corby, Tamworth and Bedworth behind them, they could not be taken lightly.  And Lockheed started brightly enough, with a free kick by Mick Cartwright being headed on by Graham Jessop and Dennis Walker got in an awkward deflection which had Gary Street diving low to save.  But there were not many more anxious moments for the uncompromising Lynn defence, which earlier this month had given away silly goals.  A hard shot from Dominic MacCallum was the sign of things to come and Cartwright was only too pleased to turn it round the post.

The breakthrough came in the 14^th minute.  A centre from David Charles was too high for Malcolm Lindsay who had taken two defenders with him and this left Tony Woolmer alone to force the ball in. Lockheed goalkeeper Peter King could rightly complain that he was given no cover and he again had no chance in the 21^st minute when Dominic MacCallum scored his first Southern League goal of the season.  A good cross from Vince Radcliffe was neatly headed on by Lindsay into the penalty spot with MacCallum running in to finish the move off.   King then had to save a deflected shot from John Durrant and a lob from Clarke as Lynn kept moving forward.   

The third goal came in the 37^th minute, being set up by Lindsay’s penetrating pass on the right wing to Durant.  Lockheed hesitated, waiting for an offside decision, giving Durant the chance to get to the by-line and beat Dennis Taylor before passing back to Lindsay.  The shot from Lindsay was charged down and Clarke was on hand to push his shot past King’s left hand.

Lockheed had a half time dressing down and looked a more spirited side early in the second half.  With a rearranged line up, bringing on substitute Keith Shrimpston for full back Cartwright it was not such a one-sided affair.  But Lynn looked the more likely side to score, especially through the electrifying bursts by Durant on the right.  

In the space of five minutes Lockheed were in all sorts of trouble on three separate occasions.   The first started with Woolmer’s quick pass on the halfway line.  Durant ran hard at the retreating defence but Bowden blocked his shot; a precision reverse pass from Durant then gave Lindsay a chance and he shot to the near post which King had covered finally in a tricky burst in which he eluded three tackles, Durant laid the ball back for Brooks who put his shot well wide.   Mick Bloxham came on when Wright came on and in the 88^th minute he won a penalty when he was hacked down from behind by Wilkinson.  Trevor Painter, with four successful penalty kicks behind him, including one at Leamington, this time shot over the top.’

Lockheed: King, Cartwright (Shrimpston 45), Taylor, Davies, Bowden, Wilkinson, Salmon, Walker, Jessop, Morton, Sherry.  Attendance 422.

Lockheed confident in 1973 that they were over their troubles

At the beginning of 1973 it was reported that ‘Lockheed enter the new year confident that most of their troubles are behind them.  Team spirit has never been better, results have improved dramatically and committee room changes have cleared the Windmill air.  Caretaker manager Bill Branston must take a large share of the credit for this transformation.   Branston, who is in his second stint between managers, has given the players a free hand to express themselves.     And this new approach has seen results improve considerably.    Brakes are pinning their faith on attacking football and although goals are still hard to come by the team are rapidly taking on a useful appearance.  

Branston is quick to praise trainer Johnny Williams for his part in lifting the Windmill gloom and the players are certainly giving Williams 100 per cent effort in training and on the field. “I am sure 1973 will see Lockheed regain their rightful place among the elite of Midland non-league clubs,” said Branston.  “It will be a long struggle but everyone is pulling out all the stops.  We are aiming to make the top 10 and in view of everything that happened in the first half of the season that is as much as we could have hoped for.”’

Lockheed were given ‘a second chance to retain the Birmingham Senior Cup – and caretaker manager Bill Branston says they are they are determined to make the most of it.  The Leamington club were humbled 4-0 at the Windmill in October by a Rugby Town side superior in every department.  But the County FA ruled that Rugby’s Mick Keeley was ineligible owing to the non-payment of a fine that accompanied a period of suspension.   The game was awarded to Lockheed only for the County FA to come back within hours to say that Roger Hambridge was cup-tied with Atherstone and should not have played for the home team.  This meant that both teams had fielded ineligible players and the game has therefore been ordered to be replayed.  

Branston thinks that Lockheed will not repeat their sorry performance in the original tie.  “We are playing well at the moment and in the League match before Christmas it was Rugby who were glad to hold on for a goalless draw.   I think we stand a great chance of celebrating our reprieve with a win.”  Branston is glad that the match will be replayed.  “It would have been very unsatisfactory to go through on a technicality.  This way both teams have a chance to put the record straight.”’  Lockheed won 2-0 with ‘an aggressive brand of attacking soccer.’

A ‘flu outbreak in the Leamington area led to a home game with Corby Town being called off.  Routine operations at Warwick Hospital were postponed and local firms were depleted of workers.  Away in Wales, ‘Lockheed worried Merthyr Tydfil for two distinct periods but a third Welsh goal midway through the second half settled the issue.  Quick to the tackle and chasing every ball, Lockheed impressed from the start on a heavy pitch and Dennis Walker shot them into a 11^th-minute lead from close range.  Merthyr had taken a half-time lead with goals from Young in the 31^st and 42^nd minutes, the second from a penalty.   Bowden used his height to head away some accurate crosses from Merthyr, but he had his name taken after a foul on Dave Smith.  Jessop was also booked after a dispute with the referee.  The winning goal came when a long ball from Lawrence caught the Lockheed defence off-guard and Young put Smith through to fire past keeper King.’