King's Lynn 4 Sleaford 1
17th August 2010
A POLISHED second hall performance from the Linnets saw them go third in Premier Division table on Tuesday night.
But it took an early Sleaford goal from Gary Walters and another half-time roasting from Town's management team to spark their side into life.
Joint boss Gary Setchell said: "I was really, really disappointed with the way we defended for the first 45 minutes and I made the players aware of it.
"We were very lucky to take a 2-1 lead into the break but in the second half, from the first minute until the end of the game, was as well as we've played all season and that includes pre-season. "I thought we stroked the ball around well, we were tighter to people, got further up the pitch and that made a massive difference."
Setchell added: "We are not good enough to outscore every team we play. If you give the top teams a goal start like Long Buckby there is no coming back and we have to instil that mentality into the players.
"We will be working on our shape in an effort to stop giving away sloppy goals." Wideman Jamie Thurlbourne proved the difference between the two teams on the night with a scintillating display out on the left, which he capped with two delightful free-kicks right out of the top-drawer.
Town made three changes from the win over Irchester with Kyle Plumb coming in for the injured Martin McNeil, alongside Brady Stone in central defence.
Kieran Doherty made way for Ross Kelly in midfield, with Scott Cubberley preferred to Robbie Harris as Defty's strike partner. Walters stunned the 700 crowd by sidefooting the visitors in front after only 17 minutes.
Shaun Popple and Greg Smith also went close for the visitors, who caught Lynn's defence flat-footed a number of times in the opening 45 minutes.
Town levelled matters in the 20th minute when Lynn broke from a Sleaford counter-attack.
Jamie Thurlbourne and Jamie Allsop combined brilliantly down the left to set up Jack Defty to fire home from ten yards.
Twelve minutes later Thurlbourne curled the Linnets in front with a sublime free-kick from all of 25 yards. Two minutes into the second half the wideman repeated the dose from a more central position as Sleaford goalkeeper Scott helped his effort into the net.
Town dominated the second period and chance after chance went begging before Scott Cubberley and Billy Smith paved the way for substitute Doherty to add a deserved fourth.
King's Lynn Town: Street, Bexfield, Alsop, Stone, Plumb, L. Thurlbourne (Doherty 69), Kelly, White (Smith 59), J. Thurlbourne, Defty (Harris 79), Cubberley. Subs (not used): Buhlemann, Hails.
Goals: Defty (20), J. Thurlbourne (32, 47), Doherty (85).
Sleaford: Scott, Jones (Shaw 56), Fenton, Sidney, Burrows, Popple, Kirton (Wilson 61), Sedlan, G Smith, Holland (Weston 69), Walters. Subs (not used): Walters, Harrison.
Goal: Walters (17).
Referee: S Barry (Northants). Attendance: 710.