LINNETS SPOT ON FOR A CUP SHOCK
Boss Ian delighted as Dover crash out
IAN CULVERHOUSE hailed his patched-up King’s Lynn side after knocking out National League Dover Athletic of the FA Trophy in a dramatic penalty shoot-out.
The National League North leaders took the lead four minutes before the break through Sam Kelly before the Whites staged a second half comeback with efforts from Jai Reason and Kevin Lokko.
But Lynn took the tie into an extra 30 minutes after Aaron Jones struck a dramatic free-kick equaliser in the fifth minute of stoppage time.
Lynn converted all of their penalty kicks while Kurtis Cumberbatch and Steven Rigg missed from the spot for the Whites.
Culverhouse, who was without a number of key players through injury, before losing a further two during the tie, said: “We were on our knees at times today, but to a man we were absolutely magnificent.
“We finished the game with ten men but I thought we still looked strong and looked dangerous on the counter.
“Going into extra-time I thought we looked the fitter. They are going through the wall every time and it is magnificent what they are producing. I’ve always said it’s not about the eleven that start, it’s about everyone contributing to this team.”
Lynn received a huge let off when Steven Rigg’s header from a corner came back off the underside of the bar and bounced away.
After having a Michael Gash effort ruled out for offside, the Linnets took the lead after some nice inter-play between Ryan Hawkins and Jones with the latter squaring it for Kelly to smash home.
Fifteen minutes into the second period, Dover goalkeeper Yusuf Mersin sliced his clearance straight into the path of Gash who could only hit the post with the goal at his mercy.
Tempers become frayed and a huge melee on the side of
the pitch saw the referee dish out yellow cards for both Gash and Dover’s Will De Havilland.
Dover’s equaliser arrived in the 73rd minute after Alex Street parried Anthony Jeffrey’s centre into the path of sub Reason to chip home.
Eight minutes later the visitors went in front for the first time after Street failed to claim a cross and Lokko was the first to the ball which found the back of the net off the inside of the post.
Dover finished the game strongly, but there was still to be a twist when Jones’ setpiece crept in to beat Mersin at his near post to send the game into extra-time and, subsequently, penalties.
Beaten Dover boss Andy Hessenthaler said: “Their quality was better than ours in the first half but we made some changes and they were better for us in the second.
“For the last half hour we dominated ut we couldn’t man-manage the situation and the ball has gone in too easy for their equaliser.”