Linnets secure first win under new manager

King’s Lynn Town secured their first National League North win under new manager Adam Lakeland as they beat Darlington 2-1 on their travels.

Two first-half strikes from Josh Barrett were enough to secure Lakeland’s first win in the hot seat and end a run of five games in the league without a win for Lynn.

The Linnets had defender Adam Crowther sent off in the final minute after receiving a second yellow card.

After the game, Lakeland said: “First and foremost I’m delighted we’ve got the win. I’m delighted for the players because they’ve been superb since the day we came into the club.

“They’ve worked really hard, applied themselves well and their attitude has been spot on. I felt we did alright last week for 70 to 75 minutes and I thought to a man today we were superb.

“I thought we defended well as a tea. We reduced them to chances from distance and we were ruthless when we got our chance.

“Saying that, we had two or three one-on-ones and we should have done a little bit better with those and made it a bit more comfortable.

“We’d have taken it all day long coming up here and getting all three points. I’m pleased for the players and the supporters who travelled up here to support the team.”

Barrett opened the scoring after just 35 seconds before Jacob Hazel levelled on 16 minutes,

Six minutes later Barrett rounded off a fine move to score his second as Lynn lifted themselves out of the relegation zone.

Lakeland handed teenage midfielder George Morrison, signed from League One Fleetwood Town, a full debut while assistant boss Sam Walker came off the bench to make his first start in Lynn colours.

Under-23s goalkeeper Tyler Key was also named as one of the substitutes.

The win leaves Darlington without a home success this season while it gave Lakeland his second taste of victory at Blackwell Meadows this season after guiding his previous club Curzon Ashton to victory in the opening game of the campaign.

Darlington: Robson, Hedley, Platt, Lees, Lawlor, Hannah (Rivers 82), Nelson, Hatfield, Hazel, Salkeld, Ngandu. Subs not used: Sukar, Liddle, Mustoe, Harker.

Goal: Hazel 16

King’s Lynn Town: Jones, Clifford, Coulson, Crowther, McFadden, Isaacson, Hargreaves, Morrison, Barrett (Spence 82), Stephens (Walker 76), Cybulski (Oke 90). Subs not used: Key, Fatadjo.

Goals: Barrett 1, 22

Attendance: 1,337