A lack of consistency proving frustrating for Linnets

Linnets boss Adam Lakeland cut a despondent figure at the weekend as he reflected on the 1-0 defeat at Darlington, which rounded off another mixed week of emotions for the club.Lynn dispelled a little of the previous weekend’s gloom which followed the Hereford defeat with a 2-1 success over Oxford City, which saw more than 1,600 pack The Walks following the club’s £5 admission offer made a few weeks back, only for the good work to be undone again with another away day to forget at a side who still harbour hopes of securing a late place in the play-offs.The week has, for me, really typified Town’s season to date, where the lack of consistency has become the main talking point amongst the club’s supporters.Two wins from the last seven games after the weekend tells its own story and Lakeland’s frustrations stem from the fact that his team are capable of winning the big games, Curzon Ashton a couple of weeks back proves that point, and yet the likes of Needham Market and Radcliffe, who you must be beating if you are serious about promotion and play-offs, have both left The Walks with a point apiece in recent weeks.And yet despite all of this, Lynn stands sixth in the National League North table as I write this column, in the last but one play-off place.As I mentioned Lakeland was a little ‘bristly’ in his post match analysis on Saturday, citing his teams lack of creativity, both in build up play and in front of goal, whilst conceding the final score could have been worse had it not been for Darlington’s finishing or the form of keeper Paul Jones, who rescued his team on numerous times.I can only imagine the frustration that Lakeland is feeling at present as he sees his team go toe-to-toe with some of the league’s best outfits one week and then struggle in the next game to beat a team from the other end of the table. The Linnets’ main problem continues to be up front where Jonny Margetts has, to date, been unable to return to his early season form following a long absence through injury. Back in late summer and autumn, Margetts was scoring for fun with many thinking it could be a thirty goal plus season for the striker who has always been prolific throughout his career.In fellow striker Gold Omotayo it simply hasn’t happened this season like it did under Tommy Widdrington in his previous stint at The Walks.Again, injuries haven’t helped the big man, punctuating his availability to play regularly. At the beginning of the season, I really did think that the club had made a great swoop bringing Omotayo back to possibly partner Margetts in a ‘big man, little man’ combination that would, between them, be knocking goals in for fun.Alas, this has never happened, due mainly to the issues discussed above. We are led to believe that the club are still looking at various options of reinforcement in the striking department, but as I write this, the search, it appears, continues with no positive news being relayed to supporters.I’ve spoken before about the difficulties of bringing players into clubs at this time of the season and it’s clear the situation remains the same now as it has in the past. Allegedly, Lynn’s latest target opted for the part-time game over the full-time variety that Lynn can offer at this time.As I mentioned, despite the gloom, Town are still very much fighting for a play-off place at present but they do need to get a run together very quickly now, with the regular season now having only around two months to run.The trip to Kidderminster on Tuesday evening would have been a test for Lakeland and his troops, although the hosts haven’t been in the best of form of late, losing their last two games to Marine and Spennymoor by a 3-1 margin.On Saturday, South Shields are at The Walks with the visitors seemingly only playing for a solid league position. A high, mid-table finish appears to be their aim with Lynn looking to avenge a 2-1 reverse suffered earlier in the season up in the North East.It’s not quite now or never for Lynn but the fat lady is beginning to find her voice to deliver her verdict on season 24/25 very soon.As you’ve gathered by now, I hope I love the game of football and most of the things that go with it.However, one thing that does get me a little warm under the collar is the ‘half scarf’ that has been seen around football grounds for, in my opinion, far too long now. For those of you not familiar with the said item, it’s a scarf sold on a match day with both teams’ names and colours emblazoned in equal measure on both sides of the garment.It’s something I have failed to understand from the time I first saw it, and seeing a couple of people walking to the Manchester City/Liverpool clash on Sunday, reminded me again of how terrible it looks.I mean, how on earth can you possibly have feelings of support for both teams when they are in reality two of the fiercest rivals in the Premier League?Sorry, but for me it’s ridiculous and those making them should be stopped from doing so. Thankfully I think the practice hasn’t reached non-league level as yet, but can you imagine supporters treating themselves to a Lynn/Boston United half scarf when the two rivals next face each other?I think we all know the answer to that particular question……..