Linnets capitulate in FA Cup as pressure mounts on manager Hughes

Aveley 4 King’s Lynn Town 0

King’s Lynn Town’s season slumped to a new low tonight as they were dumped out of the FA Cup by Aveley in their second qualifying round replay.

The Linnets went into the tie without an away win in all competitions this season and that statistic rarely looked like changing in Essex as Aveley’s best two players from the weekend sunk Lynn in emphatic fashion.

It is the first time that Lynn have failed to make it beyond the second qualifying round since 2017/18 when they lost 2-1 to Nuneaton Town.

The National League South outfit took the lead through the impressive Jon Benton midway through the first half and Matt Rush doubled the home side’s advantage 17 minutes into the second half.

Benton added a third goal for the hosts with a sublime free-kick before Rush added his second goal of the night six minutes from time.

Although Lynn’s Jordan Ponticelli saw his effort miraculously cleared off the line by Tom Stephen in the first half, it was only the heroics of Paul Jones that kept the score down to 1-0 going into the break.

The defeat heaps more pressure on manager Mark Hughes while Aveley’s reward is a home tie against unbeaten Isthmian Premier side Hornchurch in the third qualifying round on September 30.

Where this result leaves the Lynn boss – handed the reins in the summer – is uncertain with many Lynn fans making their feelings known on social media over the weekend.

After leading the club to five successive wins in caretaker charge at the end of last season, Hughes has guided the club to just one win in 11 attempts this term.

Attention for struggling Lynn turns back to the National League North as the Linnets travel to Warrington Town on Saturday.

Aveley: North, Ring, Stephen, Odelusi, Jones, Gibbs, Rush, Kelly, Hughes, Benton, Kyei (Aileru 76). Subs: Yates, Hernandez, Aileru, Davis, Ogunrinde, Ainsworth.

Booked: Kelly.

Scorers: Benton 22, 79; Rush 62 and 84.

King’s Lynn Town: Jones, Coulson, Twite, Clifford, Ronan, Isaacson (Yearn 62), Smith (Barrett 70), Spence, Stephens, Ponticelli (Cybulski 81), Fatadjo. Subs (not used): Royle, Delgado, Varela, Bartley.