King's Lynn 1 Holbeach 0
26th December 2011
LINNETS boss Gary Setchell pointed to Lynn's additional training sessions over the festive period as the secret behind his side's 11th league win on the bounce.
Defender Stuart Wall's fifth goal of the campaign settled a tight top-of-the-table affair and ended title rivals Holbeach's eight-game winning streak in front of a bumper Boxing Day crowd.
Setchell said: "The training we put on over Christmas paid dividends.
"We looked stronger near to the end and that gave us a vital three points. People crave effort, endeavour and hard work and they got all of that today.
"As bad as we had been against Deeping and Yaxley at home recently, I thought the players went a long way to putting that right today.
"It wasn't pretty, free-flowing football, but the players showed a lot more endeavour and effort all over the pitch.
"They've come in for a lot of criticism from me, but today they deserve all of the credit they get. I thought both Dan Buhlemann and Stuart Wall were magnificent at the back."
Angry Holbeach boss John Chand, who was furious with referee Pete Goodacre for not awarding his side at least one penalty during a tense 90 minutes, said: "Overall, a draw would have been the right result.
"It was a good game played in front of a great crowd at a good club, it's just a shame Mr Goodacre wasn't up to standard.
It's no disgrace to lose to Lynn, I'm just frustrated, as are the players."
Chances were few-and-far between in an uneventful first half, in which the Tigers had a penalty appeal turned down after Dan Flack had been upended in the box.
Within a minute of the restart, defender Ryan Fryatt's firm header from a Jamie Thurlbourne cross flew over the woodwork.
Holbeach were dangerous on the break and shortly after Andrew Tidswell had an effort ruled out for offside, while Daniel Flack fizzed one just past the post.
Holbeach United goalkeeper Lee Overton brilliantly clawed away a trademark Thurlbourne free-kick for a corner before the introduction of Danny Beaumont gave Lynn some fresh legs.
With 20 minutes to go, Thurlbourne delivered a corner from the right and Wall leaded home.
Stephen Spriggs missed a gilt-edged chance to wrap the game up before Liam Harrold was denied by a superb goal-saving block from Holbeach captain Jamie Stevens, who was outstanding throughout for the Tigers.
Holbeach huffed-and-puffed in search of an equaliser but the Linnets held on for a crucial three points.
King's Lynn Town: Street, Fryatt, Yong, Buhlemann, Wall, Hughes, Spriggs, L. Thurlbourne (White), Harrold, Harris (Beaumont), J. Thurlbourne (Coe).
Unused Subs: Hails, Moreira.
Goal: Wall (70). Booking: Beaumont.
MoM: Stuart Wall. Attendance: 1,040.