Planters go nap against weakened Linnets

By Norman Bygrave

Jackson hat trick and Hipperson brace seal semi-final spot

Norwich United 5 King’s Lynn Town 0
Norfolk Senior Cup quarter-final
The Planters cruised through to the semi-finals with a comprehensive victory against a weakened Linnets line-up. King’s Lynn had decided to field a full strength team in their league game against Hereford, sending the reserves to defend their Senior Cup crown.
The Planters showed no signs of complacency as they raced forward and Andy Eastaugh’s header from a second minute corner was cleared off the line.
Moments later Nathan Stewart robbed a defender before setting Adam Hipperson clear down the left, he raced into the area but lifted his shot over the bar. Stewart then saw his shot from the edge of the area tipped wide by Linnets keeper Aaron Watson.
A foul on Stewart led to a Hipperson free kick, his flighted ball to the far post saw Eastaugh beat Watson to the ball but his header back across goal went wide of the far post.
Stewart continued his impressive start dancing down the left he cut the ball back and Liam Jackson reacted first to open the scoring netting from close range in the 13th minute.
Jackson gave the Planters an opportunity to double the lead with a strong run into the box and as he played the ball across referee Peter Venables spotted a handball and pointed to the spot. Tim Henery stepped up but sent his shot over the bar.
Jackson once again ran into the area and unselfishly squared to Hipperson but his shot was saved by Watson.
Hipperson eventually doubled the lead in the 27th minute, put away down the left wing he carried the ball into the area before calmly lobbing Watson and inside the far post.
A Henery cross from the right found Jackson and his cushioned header allowed Henry Pollock a shot which was deflected for a corner.
The Planters scored the third goal in the 39th minute, after a good build up down the left Watson punched away but only to Hipperson who from just outside the box hit an exquisite lob back over Watson and under the crossbar.
The Planters effectively sealed the contest a minute before the break when Pollock’s ball into the are was touched on by Stewart into the path of Jackson who hit a lovely half volley back across the keeper and inside the far post.
Five minutes after the break Andy Wilton had to make his first save of the evening, but the long range shot from Harry Baldry didn’t pose him any problem.
Angus Mackie and Stewart combined well down the right and provided a chance for Hipperson to shoot but he saw his effort blocked.
This proved to be the last action for Hipperson as with the game seemingly under control he was substituted along with Andy Eastaugh ten minutes after the interval.
The Planters were still pushing forward although with not quite so much menace and Stewart saw a long range shot saved by Watson. The keeper who had a busy night for the Linnets then thwarted Jackson who was released down the left before cutting in and seeing his shot well saved.
Amon Kutsirayi replaced Stewart to make his first team competitive debut.
The Linnets then had their best spell of the game with two quick fire chances, firstly Ryan Lennon had his shot blocked by Henery and then a dangerous cross from Dylan Edge flew across the face of goal with no one able to apply the finishing touch.
Jackson wasn’t to be denied his hat trick and in the 76th minute he grabbed the Planters fifth, robbing a defender wide on the right he took the ball to the byline rounded Watson and squeezed the ball in from a very acute angle.
Kutsirayi showed great pace to keep the ball in play and cut in from the byline and jink past a defender before getting a shot away which Watson did well to push clear.
A Cassimiro Datocampol ball in was deflected to Henery but under pressure he shot over the bar. Deep into injury time Kutsirayi found Jackson but the striker was denied a fourth by Watson’s point blank save.
Planters: Wilton, Mackie, Applegate, Jones, Eastaugh (Probert 55), Watts, Henery, Pollock, Jackson, Stewart (Kutsirayi 71), Hipperson (Datocampol 55). Unused subs: Wones, Mokake.
King’s Lynn Town: Watson, Daws (Noble 71), McLeish, English, South (Browne 64), Dye (Upson 77), Lennon, McQuaid, Edge, Baldry, Harnwell. Unused subs: King, Rudland.
Referee: Peter Venables. Assistants: David Jewell & Darion Matthewson.
Attendance: 71.