Baptism of fire for on-loan goalkeeper leaves Linnets still seeking first win

Chester City 3 King’s Lynn Town 0

King’s Lynn Town were left searching for their first win of the campaign as on-loan goalkeeper Ronnie Sandford had a baptism of fire between the posts.

Sanford – signed from League Two Milton Keynes Dons as cover for the injured Tommy Dixon-Hodge and Paul Jones – was at fault for two goals as the Linnets were punished for their errors in Cheshire.

Zak Goodson gave the Blues a half-time lead before strikes from Kole Hall and the excellent Iwan Murray sealed victory for their hosts.

Mark Hughes’ side had their moments at the Deva Stadium, especially in the first half, but let themselves down with their defending.

Murray’s corner was nodded towards goal by Harrison Burke – parried by Sandford – and Goodson was there to turn home the loose ball.

Lynn almost summoned an instant reply, after a deep cross from the right found the run of unmarked Tom Clifford, who headed wide from close range.

Clifford then went close from a free kick on the quarter of an hour mark – his curling effort got over the wall but Wyll Stanway got across to tip it around the post.

Stanway was called into action again in the 25th minute as he parried away an effort from Ben Stephens.

Nine minutes into the second half a dangerous cross from the right by Kian Ronan forced an excellent double save from Stanway.

But Chester doubled the advantage moments later.

Sandford got nowhere near an Earl ball over the top, Coates lobbed it into the area and a defensive mix-up enabled Hall the simplest opportunity to fire in the second.

Chester wrapped up the three points five minutes from time.

Sub Declan Weeks supplied the pass, and the Welshman nutmegged Kyle Callan-McFadden before firing past Sandford cool as you like.

Chester: Stanway, Taylor, Burke, Goodson (Glandon 57)), Whitehouse, Earl (Weeks 59), Daly, Murray (Bott 90+5), Hall, Coates, Edwards. Subs: Weeks, Williams, Glendon, Heywood, Bott.

Booked: Daly, Goodson.

Scorers: Goodson 7, Hall 56. Murray 83

King’s Lynn Town: Sandford, Ronan, Crowther, McFadden, Coulson (Bartley 76), Clifford, Hargreaves, Hughes (Smith 63), Stephens, Ponticelli, Barrett (Spence 56). Subs: Smith, Spence, Oke, Bartley, Fatadjo.

Booked: Hughes

Attendance: 2137.