Linnets pick up crucial win in promotion race

King’s Lynn Town 3 Spennymoor Town 0

King’s Lynn Town warmed up for Tuesday night’s top-of-the-table clash against AFC Fylde at the Walks by ending a three-game winless run in the National League North this afternoon.

Defender Adam Crowther found the back of the net for the second successive game to give Lynn the lead against Spennymoor Town at the interval.

Substitute Jordan Ponticelli gave the home side the luxury of a two-goal cushion after the break before skipper Michael Clunan wrapped up a comfortable three points two minutes from time.

With AFC Fylde triumphing by the slenderest of margins at Alfreton, it’s as you were at the top of the table with Lynn sitting in second place in the league standings.

The Linnets made three changes to the team that started the 1-1 draw at Brackley Town on Tuesday night.

Joshua Barrett, Gold Omotayo and Jacob Jones all came into the side with Aaron Cosgrave and Jordan Ponticelli dropping to the bench.

There was no place in the squad for Olly Scott who picked up an injury in the midweek draw while manager Tommy Widdrington was a spectator in the stands as he served a one-game touchline ban.

The sides served up a four-goal thriller in the reverse fixture and it took Lynn just eight minutes to open the scoring in front of a bumper attendance.

Captain Michael Clunan delivered a corner from the right and Crowther – scorer of the late equaliser in County Durham – rose highest to head Lynn in front.

Lynn missed a great opportunity to double their lead midway through the half after Ben Stephens was sent clear by Clunan down the right, but none of his colleagues were on the same wavelength and his cross was scrambled clear.

The home side remained in charge and it took a last-ditch clearance from the visitors to thwart both Ben Stephens and Jacob Jones a clear shot on target after Christian Oxlade-Chamberlain and Barrett had started the move with a lovely one-two on the right.

Lynn made a double change at the break with Ponticelli and Cosgrave replacing both Barrett and Stephens for the start of the second half.

Rob Ramshaw headed a John Lufudu cross over the woodwork as The Moors were first to threaten after the restart.

Cosgrave worked some space to test Harry Flatters between the visiting posts as the Linnets went in search of a second goal.

The hosts were relieved to see substitute Jake Day’s attempt blocked by Crowther and go behind for a corner before Lynn boke up field a few minutes later and Ponticelli saw his tame effort kept out by Flatters.

Spennymoor’s Lufudu caused Lynn all kinds of problems after the break – but it was the home side who gave themselves some extra breathing space by adding a second 18 minutes from time.

Clunan whipped in a corner from the left and Ponticelli’s flicked header looped over Flatters and into the top corner of the net.

There was still time for more drama as Clunan’s free-kick looked to have gone in off the underside of the crossbar before Cosgrave helped it over he line.

A bumper crowd of 1581 were present at The Walks and Lynn will be hoping that those – and many more – will flock through the turnstiles for Tuesday night’s potential title decider.

King’s Lynn Town (5-3-2): Dixon-Hodge, J. Jones, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Fleming, Coulson, Crowther; Widdrington (Hughes 79), Clunan, Barrett (Ponticelli 46); Stephens (Cosgrave 46), Omotayo.

Spennymoor Town (5-3-2): Flatters; Lufudu, Kendall, Tait, Faulkner, Ledger (Ross 4, Day 56); Anderson, Becker, Ramshaw; McKeown, Blackett.

Attendance: 1,581.

---

---