LEAGUE TABLES
Saturday 2nd March
Evo-Stik Southern Prem |
01 |
Kettering Town
|
32 |
76 |
02 |
Stourbridge
|
34 |
68 |
03 |
King's Lynn Town
|
32 |
58 |
04 |
AFC Rushden & D'nds
|
32 |
54 |
05 |
Stratford Town
|
32 |
54 |
06 |
Alvechuch
|
31 |
53 |
07 |
Coalville Town
|
30 |
51 |
Thurlow Nunn Div One |
12 |
Cornard United
|
27 |
34 |
13 |
Leiston Reserves
|
25 |
32 |
14 |
Diss Town
|
27 |
29 |
15 |
King's Lynn Res
|
27 |
26 |
16 |
Haverhill Borough
|
26 |
23 |
17 |
Needham Market Res
|
29 |
20 |
18 |
Felixstowe Reserves
|
28 |
19 |
oalville's play-off credentials were called into doubt by a Lynn team that brushed aside the challenge of their seventh placed visitors.
A deserved 4-1 win, with results elsewhere going Lynn's way, opened up a lead of four points over fourth placed Rushden & Diamonds.
The inclusion of Rory McAuley was the only change to the starting line-up with Joe Robinson dropping to the bench. Coalville fielded the same starting eleven that had defeated Halesowen in midweek, including former Linnet Kalern Thomas.
Michael Clunan had an early corner tipped over the bar by Raven's 'keeper Richard Walton and on seven minutes Lynn were awarded a penalty, rather harshly, when a Ryan Jarvis shot hit the hand of a visiting defender. Justice was, perhaps, done when Clunan's spot kick clipped the outside of the post.
Lynn had the majority of the early possession, Adam Marriott producing Lynn's next chance with a stinging shot that was blocked by Walton.
On 26 minutes Lynn took the lead with a neat move by Marriott who slipped the ball through the legs of a visiting defender for Chris Henderson to thump home.
The score was levelled, however, five minutes later when a poor defensive clearance found Andrew Wright who hammered the ball past Alex Street.
Marriott then had a shot that was deflected wide whilst at the other end Wright tried his luck with a free kick from distance but Street was able to palm the ball away to safety.
Two minutes before the break Lynn went back into the lead when Michael Gash headed home Frazer Blake-Tracy's cross at the far post.
Any hopes Coalville had of getting back into the game were dealt a severe blow just 27 seconds after the restart. A neat move involving Gash and Marriott resulted in the latter playing in Henderson who scored his second of the game with a shot into the right hand corner.
Coalville had little to offer in response, Tom McGlinchey having the best effort, beating three players but then seeing his dinked shot drift wide of the post.
With a minute of normal time remaining Lynn rounded off the scoring from the penalty spot. Substitute Ryan Hawkins was bundled over by Kieran Fenton and Marriott rounded off a fine performance by the Linnets.
Lynn: Street, Jones, Blake-Tracy, Jarvis (Parker 90), Fryatt, McAuley, Clunan, Richards, Gash, Marriott (Mellors-Blair 90), Henderson (Hawkins 83). Subs: Hawkins, Bastock, Mellors-Blair, Robinson, Parker. Booked: Henderson, Clunan. Scorers: Henderson 27, 46 Gash 43. Marriott 89 pen
Coalville: Walton, Dean, Thomas, Towers, Fenton, Doyle-Charles, Shaw (Omotola 60), Wright, Perry (Berridge 70), Mitchell (Burrows 70), McGlinchey. Subs: Coton, Burrows, Browne, Berridge, Omotola. Booked: Doyle-Charles, Towers. Scorer: Wright 31
Attendance: 733
It was reported in the match day programme that Jake Kerins has been transfer listed by the club. Kerins joined the club in January and has made four appearances.