Ten-man Linnets guarantee National League North status despite late defeat at Walks

King’s Lynn Town 0 Peterborough Sports 1Ten-man King’s Lynn Town guaranteed their National League North status for next season despite former favourite Michael Gash netting a late winner at the Walks.Visiting substitute Gash curled home a stunning winner deep into stoppage time after the Linnets had Jonathan Margetts harshly sent off early in the second half.Lynn named the same starting line-up for the second successive game as they fielded the same team who defeated Chorley 1-0 in midweek.Peterborough Sports, meanwhile, named ex-Linnets Rory McAuley and Ryan Fryatt in their starting XI while the popular Gash was on the bench. There was an early scare for Lynn as Paul Jones saved with his legs to deny Brandon Njoku before Dan Jarvis rattled the woodwork with his follow-up.It wasn’t a classic in the first 45, but it was never going to be with both clubs assured of virtually assured of safety before kick-off. Lynn made a change for the start of the second half as Bartosz Cybulski replaced Owen Devonport.But their cause wasn’t helped in the 50th minute as referee Lewis Dawson brandished Margetts a straight red card for bringing down Dan Lawlor when it looked no more than a yellow card offence. Despite having a man less, Lynn were the better side for long periods of the half as Dylan Crowe fired an effort wide of the post.Josh Coulson put in a brilliant block to deny Jarvis with 15 minutes left on the clock in a rare Sports attack after the break. Visiting goalkeeper Peter Crook pulled off a superb stop in stoppage time to deny substitute Gabriel Rogers a goal before Gash went up the other end to settle an uninspiring A47 derby with a carbon copy of his goal from Lynn’s Super-Play Off win at Warrington back in 2019.Adam Lakeland’s side go into their final game at Spennymoor next weekend four points above the drop zone. King’s Lynn Town: Jones, Barrows (Rogers 89), McFadden, Taylor, Coulson, Crowe, Hargreaves, Morrison, Walker (Stephens 82), Devonport (Cybulski 46), Margetts. Subs not used: Hughes, Dixon-Hodge.Peterborough Sports: Crook, Tootle (Meyer 80), Ahui, Fryatt, Johnson, Lawlor (Alban Jones 56), McCammon, Jones (Gash 80), Jarvis, McAuley, Njoku. Subs not used: Miles, Pereira. Attendance: 1624. Elsewhere this afternoon, Heacham drew 0-0 with Long Melford as manager David Griggs took charge of his final game while Brantham Athletic and Fakenham Town also served up a goalless encounter.Downham Town suffered a 2-1 defeat at home to Harleston Town, with Artur Visocanskis netting for the hosts.In the First Division North, Swaffham Town drew 1-1 at Needham U23s.