Young Linnets beat Heacham in Norfolk Senior Cup

King’s Lynn Town U23s 1 Heacham 0King’s Lynn Town U23s marked their Norfolk Senior Cup debut in style by claiming the scalp of Heacham at the Walks this evening.Cian Aldridge was on target with the only goal in the second half as the National Football Youth League side saw off their Thurlow Nunn Premier Division visitors.The young Linnets were good value for their progress into the fourth round as they grew into the tie against their West Norfolk rivals.A surprise inclusion in the Under-23s line-up was that of goalkeeper Tom Dixon-Hodge while Cameron Forde Brown – on the bench for the first team in recent weeks – was named in the home starting line-up along with Wisbech Town defender Harry Twite.Dixon-Hodge was a big presence between the home posts with the goalkeeper delivering a commanding display over the 90 minutes.Heacham were forced to shuffle their pack with loan players Paulius Falcao, Marley Delgardo and Charlie Royle not featuring against their parent club.The Magpies had several youngsters on their bench, including 16-year-old Jake Marsden.A long ball over the top from the hosts sent Hayden Lambert clear after eight minutes but his effort on the edge of the box was high and wide of the target.Forde Brown also drilled a shot wide as an energetic U23s outfit just about shaded the opening quarter of the tie.The first moment of danger from the visitors came from a Liam Mitchell free-kick which was headed back across the box by Luke Gray.Midway through the first half Dixon-Hodge was at full-stretch to his right to keep out a Nathan Davies shot after the attacking midfielder burst into the home penalty area.A lightning counter-attack from Amadu Kanu left Heacham stretched at the back ten minutes before the break but the youngster was unable to pick out one of his team-mates and the Magpies were able to clear their lines.The opening goal came midway through the second half after a clearance by a visiting defender cannoned into a home player before finding its way through to Aldridge, who was quickest to react at the far post.Ethan Lack missed a glorious opportunity to double Lynn’s lead less than two minutes later as his shot was deflected behind for a corner.The closest Heacham came to finding an equaliser arrived in the 85th minute when Matt Goss skied his effort over the woodwork from a few yards out.Substitute Andrew Wood also curled a late shot just wide for the visitors in injury time.King’s Lynn Town U23s: Dixon-Hodge, Kanu, Aldridge, Mann, Johnson, Twite, Lambert, Lack, Aguilar, Forde-Brown, Cowie. Subs: Key, Gordon, Wilson, Kiwomya, Lines.Heacham: Watson, Akers, Mitchell, Lammiman, Goss, Rawlings, Wood, Dear, Noble, Davies, Gray. Subs: Young, Robinson, Marsden, Wood, Pishorn.