Linnets face FA Cup replay after goalless draw

King’s Lynn Town will face Aveley in a replay on Monday night after a 0-0 draw in their FA Cup Second Qualifying Round tie.

Both teams had opportunities to win the game at the first attempt and Linnets boss Mark Hughes will feel that his side should perhaps be in the next round on the balance of play.

King’s Lynn Town’s starting line-up showed four changes from the one that fell to a 4-1 defeat at the hands of Southport last week.

There were returns for full-backs Tom Clifford and Kian Ronan and Ben Stephens while Bermudian international Harry Twite was handed his first-ever start at club level in England.

Twite came in for the suspended Emmanuel Oke at the heart of the home defence but there was no place in the squad for midfielder Cameron Hargreaves following his brief appearance as a substitue against Southport.

The home side gave a much better showing than last week in the opening 45 minutes, although Aveley played some lovely stuff at times.

Stephens sent Bartosz Cybolski clear in the second minute but the frontman dragged his effort well wide of the target.

Aveley responded well and the busy Jon Benton skipped past two challnges before firing over the woodwork.

The fingertips of Paul Jones denied Eduino Vaz 11 minutes before the break and Lynn’s custodian was also called upon soon after to save low down to his left to thwart Benton.

A quick break involving Jack Smith and Stephens saw Josh Barrett fire into the side-netting early in the second half.

It took the home side almost an hour for their first effort on target as substitute Jordan Ponticelli forced Jonanthan North into a comfortable stop.

Lynn enjoyed a good 15-minute spell and Barrett’s snapshot had North at full-stretch to his right to keep the tie level.

Aveley’s best chance of the second period came seven minutes from time as Benton’s shot came back off the post.

The hosts handed a brief cameo to loanee Kai Yearn in the remaining few minutes but even he was unable to unlock a resolute Aveley backline.

King’s Lynn Town: Jones, McFadden, Coulson, Twite, Ronan, Clifford, Smith, Spence, Stephens (Fatadjo 69), Barrett (Yearn 85), Cybulski (Ponticelli 56). Subs: Isaacson, Ponticelli, Fatadjo, Bartley, Yearn, Delgado, Royle.

Booked: McFadden

Aveley: North, Ring, Vaz, Odelusi, Jones, Gibbs, Rush (Hernandez 90), Kelly, Hughes, Benton, Kyei (Aileru 81). Subs: Witherspoon, Aileru, Davis, Stephen, Ogunrinde, Ainsworth

Attendance: 570.

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