King's Lynn make winning start to new National League North season with Bradford victory
Bradford Park Avenue 0 King's Lynn Town 1
King's Lynn Town made the perfect start to the new National League North season thanks to a late winner from Gold Omotayo.
Omotayo struck seven minutes from time following a pinpoint ball in from Jordan Ponticelli as the Linnets started the campaign with a hard-fought three points on their travels.
Ahead of the club's opener in West Yorkshire, manager Tommy Widdrington told the media at his weekly press call: "We will do our job as best we can and I am sure the players will give everything they have got for the badge before they put their name on the back of the shirt, and that is all I want.
"If we do that and give a good account of ourselves from minute one of the first game to the last minute of the last game, I won’t be asking any more of them.”
And his players did exactly that with an excellent victory on the opening day and a clean sheet to boot.
The Linnets chief handed full league debuts to both Adam Crowther and Jordan Ponticelli while Josh Barrett had to be content with a place on the bench against The Green Army.
Jamie Spencer saw an early effort flash wide for the hosts while Lynn's Ponticelli was denied by a last-gasp intervention just as he shaped to shoot midway through the first half.
Lynn continued to enjoy the better of the first half exchanges as Aaron Jones and Michael Clunan combined to release Olly Scott, whose cross just evaded both Ponticelli and Omotayo in the home box.
Crowther was on hand to foil the home outfit with a brilliant tackle at the start of the second period before Jones forced George Sykes-Kenworthy into an excellent save at the other end of the pitch.
Sykes-Kenworthy pulled off a stunning stop to thwart Ponticelli after great ball from Tyler Denton had been nodded down into the striker's path by Omotayo.
Seven minutes from time, Ponticelli stood the ball up to the back post and Omotayo was on hand to power home the only goal of the game.
King's Lynn Town: P. Jones, A. Jones, Denton, Scott, Crowther, Coulson, Widdrington, Hargreaves (Barrett), Clunan, Omotayo, Ponticelli.
