Linnets suffer worst home defeat for 18 months

King’s Lynn Town 1 Southport 4

King’s Lynn Town suffered their heaviest home league defeat for 18 months after a first-half capitulation against struggling Southport at The Walks.

Lynn didn’t let the visitors have a kick in the opening 10 minutes – but were then blown away by four goals in a 21-minute spell as their backline wilted in the heat.

Striker Marcus Carver helped himself to a first-half hat-trick with the home defence at sixes and sevens before Jordan Ponticelli replied for the hosts.

The Linnets were at sixes and sevens during an awful first half at The Walks. Picture: Tim Smith

The defeat leaves the Linnets languishing in the bottom four of the National League North standings and a late red card for defender Emmanuel Oke leaves manager Mark Hughes with even more selection woes heading into the FA Cup tie against Aveley next weekend.

With Tommy Hughes missing with a hip injury, Hughes was forced into one change from Tuesday night with Ponticelli coming into the starting line-up at the midfielder’s expense.

Key midfielder Cameron Hargreaves was named on the bench with Kai Yearn – signed on loan from Cambridge United on Friday – also among the substitutes.

Lynn fans watch their side capitulate. Picture: Tim Smith

Lynn enjoyed plenty of the ball in the opening exchanges and there was little sign of what was about to follow.

A smart piece of play from Jesh Barrett picked out Ben Isaacson down the left before the youngster crossed for Ponticelli to force Chris Renshaw into a save.

Southport’s first opportunity saw Bradley Holmes fire wide of the target after a rare error from Josh Coulson saw the home side concede possession.

Manager Mark Hughes shouts instructions from the touchline. Picture: Tim Smith

Ponticelli had another chance to put Lynn in front in the 15th minute but his header from Barrett’s cross came back off the post with Renshaw beaten.

Southport took the lead after 20 minutes – and it was a collective mess from Lynn in the build up to the goal.

Emmanuel Oke left Ismael Fatjado with a pass down the right and when the ball found its way back to Coulson, the defender sold goalkeeper Paul Jones short and Carver was left with the easiest of finishes.

Four minutes later it was 2-0 and Lynn were left with a proverbial mountain to climb after Sion Spence conceded a free-kick which Doyle duly dispatched into the back of the net.

The writing was on the wall 16 minutes before the interval as Lynn’s backline failed to deal with a pass from Brad Holmes and Carver netted his second of the afternoon.

Southport were in dreamland as Carver completed a first half treble in the 42nd minute following a brilliant ball in from Niall Watson.

Hughes sent on Hargreaves for Ismael Fatjado at the start of the second half as they looked to restore some pride.

The home side needed an early reply and it arrived two minutes after the restart as Ponticelli bundled home to give Hughes’ troops an immediate lift.

Renshaw was on hand to save from Barrett as Lynn missed a golden opportunity to half the deficit.

Barrett was guilty of missing a couple of half-chances for the home side who could have suffered an even-heavier loss had Carver not fluffed his lines in front of goal in the final ten minutes.

Lynn’s misery was compounded by a late red card for Oke with Carver sprawled out on the deck.

King’s Lynn Town: Jones, Oke, Coulson, McFadden, Spence, Smith, Isaacson (Royle 64), Barrett, Fatadjo (Hargreaves 46), Cybulski, Ponticelli. Subs (not used): Bartley, Yearn, Sandford.

Scorer: Ponticelli 48

Sent-off: Emmanuel Oke.

Southport: Renshaw, Doyle (Sass 73), Flowers, Anson, Watson, Morgan, Carver, Quansah, Heath, O’Neill (Costello 70), Holmes (Mariette 70). Subs (not used): McMillan, Evans.

Booked: O’Neill, Doyle.

Scorers: Carver 20, 29, 42; Doyle 24.

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