Linnets face away play-off after Chester defeat at Walks

King’s Lynn Town 0 Chester 3King’s Lynn Town crept into the National League North play-offs – and will travel to Chorley on Tuesday night – after surrendering the chance of a home play-off.The Linnets went into the game in the box seat, but were completely dismantled by an understrength Seals outfit during a woeful first-half performance, which saw them 3-0 down at the break.Goals from Kurt Willoughby, Jack Bainbridge and Dylan Motley-Henry left the hopes of a home play-off in tatters as Lynn finished the regulation season in sixth spot.Chorley – 5-1 winners at Rushall Olympic – leapfrogged Lynn in the final standings and will now host Adam Lakeland’s side in the play-off eliminator in midweek.Boss Lakeland made two changes to the side, which picked up a late win at Needham on Monday.Ross Crane and Dylan Crowe returned to the starting line-up with Freddie Sass and Gold Omotayo missing out. Omotayo’s absence was a big concern with the big frontman failing a fitness test before the game. Chester arrived in Norfolk having already assured themselves of fourth spot in the table and home advantage in the play-off eliminator.The Seals – under no pressure to pick up a result – handed debuts to goalkeeper Alex Brown and academy defender Henry Briscoe in a much-changed line-up.JBainbridge flashed an early effort over the woodwork for the visitors, but what was about to follow wasn’t in the script. The Seals opened the scoring in the 14th minute as Willoughby latched onto an incisive pass from Dan Mooneyand found the back of the net with a powerful shot. It went from bad to worse for the hosts 15 minutes later.Mottley-Henry was allowed to twist and turn down the left before sending a delightful cross to leave Bainbridge with the simplest of headers from six yards out. Lynn made an early change as Matty Warburton replaced Josh Coulson 12 minutes before the break.The switch had an immediate impact as Warburton’s long-range effort was fumbled by Brown before the Chester goalkeeper saved Dylan Crowe’s follow-up.But Lynn’s hopes of hauling themselves back into the game were dealt a devastating blow two minutes before the interval.Jack Lambert – the scourge of Lynn in the first half – picked out Motley-Henry with a clever pass and the Chester forward made no mistake with an emphatic finish. Lynn should have reduced the arrears 20 minutes into the second half after Kian Ronan squared the ball to Margetts, but the striker fluffed his lines in the box.Lakeland now faces the unenviable task of picking up his players for a trip to Chorley, who have already taken four points off his side this season.King’s Lynn Town: Jones, Ronan (Barnes 67), McFadden, Coulson (Warburton 33), Wilson, Crowe, Taylor (Marsden 74), Johnson, Hmami, Margetts (Sass 81), Crane.Subs not used: Boyes. Booked: WilsonChester: Brown, Hunter, Briscoe, Rawlinson, Willoughby (Turner 65), Lambert, Mottley-Henry, Bainbridge (O’Kane 46), Heywood, Burgess, Mooney (Rosenblatt 70). Subs not used: Storer, Leak.Booked: Mooney.Scorers: Willoughby 14, Bainbridge 29, Mottley-Henry 43.Attendance: 1,645.