Linnets remain top with Southport win

Striker Gold Omotayo helped himself to a brace for the second successive home game as King’s Lynn Town came from behind to beat Southport 3-2 at The Walks.

Omotayo’s brace, coupled with a goal for Ben Stephens, ensured that Lynn remain top of the pile by a point from AFC Fylde, who picked up a 1-0 win on their travels at Boston United.

The victory guarantees Lynn at least second spot in the final league standings with a trip to Darlington (April 22) and a home fixture against Curzon Ashton (April 29) remaining as an absorbing title race goes down to the wire.

Interim boss Mark Hughes made one change to the team which secured a 2-0 victory over Alfreton on Easter Monday as Ben Stephens came back in the side for Tommy Hughes.

Lynn started the game like a team bang in form and carved out two glorious opportunities to take the lead in the early exchanges.

In the opening minute, Ben Stephens played in Omotayo who got the ball caught in between his feet before seeing his eventual shot take a deflection into the arms of Tony McMillan.

Aaron Jones’ pass sent Josh Barrett clear down the left and his cross was met by the head of Stephens who saw his effort cleared off the line

Despite their bright start, Lynn’s luck took a cruel twist after 17 minutes when Connor Heath’s harmless shot deflected off Josh Coulson and Tommy Dixon-Hodge was left completely wrong-footed as the ball found the back of the net.

It was the first time in Hughes’ brief tenure that Lynn had been behind – but it didn’t stay that way for long.

Five minutes after falling behind Lynn were almost level as Barrett’s cross was headed against the post by Adam Crowther.

The woodwork came to Southport’s rescue for a second time as a long ball over the top from Jones picked out Barrett whose audacious chip rebounded off the bar with McMillan beaten.

Lynn’s domination continued and it took a fine fingertip stop from McMillan to keep out a vicious half-volley from Omotayo on the half-hour mark.

The equaliser deservedly arrived from the penalty spot five minutes before half-time.

Omotayo was going nowhere in the penalty area before having his heels clipped by Declan Evans before picking himself up to send McMillan the wrong way.

Two minutes later Lynn were in front as Barrett’s free-kick was eventually poked home by Stephens in a crowded penalty area.

Omotayo was stopped in his tracks by a brilliant tackle from Adam Anson early in the second half as Lynn remained on the front foot.

The home side wrapped up the points eight minutes after the restart as Southport goalkeeper McMillan fumbled the ball and Omotayo pounced for his second of the afternoon.

Southport set up a tense final quarter after Tyler Walton converted Josh Hmami’s through ball – but Lynn, who should have added a fourth through Barrett late on, held on without any further alarms.

King’s Lynn Town: Dixon-Hodge, A Jones, Crowther, Coulson, Callan-McFadden, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Widdrington (Hughes 67), Clunan, Barrett (Cosgrave 90), Stephens (Ponticelli 73), Omotayo. Subs not used: Morrell, Fleming.

Booked: Clunan, Crowther.

Scorers: Omotayo 40 (pen) and 53, Stephens 43.

Southport: McMillan, Oliver, Doyle, Anson, Evans (Carberry 90), Walton, Heath, Hmami, Vassallo (Adams 82), Watson, Bainbridge Subs not used: Wade, Munro, Miles.

Booked: Hmami, Heath.

Scorers: Heath 17, Walton 69

Attendance: 1,430.

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