Abject Linnets slump to defeat at Scunthorpe United

Scunthorpe United 3 King’s Lynn Town 0King’s Lynn Town slumped to their seventh defeat of the National League North season as they ended 2024 in abject fashion at promotion rivals Scunthorpe United.The Linnets found themselves two goals down in the opening 20 minutes and conceded a third in first-half injury time as the Iron moved to the top of the table and relegated Lynn to fourth in the process.The defeat ended Lynn’s seven-match unbeaten run, stretching back to mid-November, as they leaked three goals in a game for the first time this season and lacked any real penetration in attack.Striker Jonny Margetts was ruled out of this afternoon’s clash for the visitors as manager Adam Lakeland made two changes to his starting line-up from the side that drew at home to Needham Market on Boxing Day.Scunthorpe had five ex-Linnets in their starting line-up with Andrew Boyce, Ross Barrows, Tyler Denton, Michael Clunan and Joe Rowley all featuring against their former club.The pitch at the Attis Arena resembled a beach in several areas with more sand than grass – but it didn’t stop the home side from running Lynn ragged in the opening 45 minutes. Lynn were caught napping for the home side’s opener after 14 minutes with a well-worked corner routine involving Clunan and Rowley being finished emphatically by the unmarked Callum Roberts. Seven minutes later, the Iron doubled their advantage through Danny Whitehall from the penalty spot after the frontman had rolled Tom Wilson inside the box before being brought down by the defender.Hmami saw his shot blocked by Boyce in a rare Lynn attack while penalty shouts for a foul on Finlay Barnes were waved away by referee Jonathan Maskrey.Barrows’ afternoon was ended prematurely as he was stretchered off 11 minutes before the interval after slipping on the sandy surface. It went from bad to worse in first-half injury time as the industrious Clunan threaded a ball through to Whitehall to tuck away his tenth goal of the campaign.Lynn made a double change for the start of the second period with Ross Crane and Barnes making way for Gold Omotayo and and Theo Williams. Omotayo came closest to pulling a goal back ten minutes after the restart after the big frontman’s header from a Greg Taylor cross cannoned back off the post.Roberts’ last action of the afternoon saw his deep cross tipped over the woodwork by Patrick Boyes. Lynn’s Taylor saw his header saved at point-blank range by Ross Fitzsimons but Lynn looked toothless in the opposition box.Next up for Lynn is a trip to Warrington Town on Saturday.Scunthorpe United: Fitzsimons Kouogun, Boyce, Clunan, Whitehall (Beck 58), Roberts (Williams 66), Rowley, Ubaezuonu, Scales, Denton (Law 71), Barrows (Kelly 37). Subs not used: Evans.Booked: Whitehall, Kouogun, Boyce Scorers: Roberts 15, Whitehall (pen) 21, 45+4.King’s Lynn Town: Boyes, Ronan, Crowe (Sass 69), McFadden (Coulson 77), Wilson, Taylor, Johnson, McCammon (Hughes 69), Barnes (Omotayo 46), Crane (Williams 46), Hmami.Booked: Barnes, Ronan.Attendance: 4165 (105 from Lynn).