King's Lynn Town up to second in National League North standings after completing festive double over Boston United

King's Lynn Town 2 Boston United 1

Defender Olly Scott was on target for the second successive game as King's Lynn Town made the best possible start to 2023 by sealing a festive double over Boston United in an ill-tempered affair – on and off the pitch – at The Walks.

Fresh from their first away win in almost four months at Lincolnshire on Boxing Day, the Linnets followed it up with their second victory over their rivals to move up to second in the National League North standings.

But the game was held up for a few minutes in the second half after a handful of Boston United fans broke through the barrier separating them from the Lynn supporters and some unsavoury scenes followed.

Tommy Widdrington's side strolled into a 2-0 lead against a poor Pilgrims outfit with first half goals from Scott and Adam Crowther before the visitors replied through Tre Mitford deep into stoppage time.

Lynn should have won by more but weren't helped by a red card for defender Aaron Jones 18 minutes from full-time.

Lynn made two changes to their starting line-up for the visit of the Pilgrims with Gold Omotayo getting the nod over Ken Charles up front while Crowther came in for Kyle Callan McFadden at the back.

Defender McFadden could count himself rather unlucky not to retain his place following his display in the reverse fixture and predictably there was no spot in the squad for injured striker Jordan Ponticelli.

Visiting Boston United made a double switch from the team beaten 2-0 by Lynn at the Jakeman's Community Stadium six days ago with Harry Lewis and Jake Wright replacing Joe Starbuck and Jordan Crawford respectively.

The visitors also had a new signing on the bench with Mitford – scorer of a double against Lynn in the defeat at Gloucester City earlier in the campaign – among the substitutes.

An early tackle from Aaron Jones stopped Jake Wright in the box as the visitors passed the ball neatly in the early stages.

Backed by a vociferous crowd, Lynn took the lead with their first attack of the game after 11 minutes.

Omotayo comfortably beat Shaun Pearson in the air before Ben Stephens combined with Josh Barrett to set up Scott – who made his Lynn debut exactly a year ago – to score off the post.

Five minutes later, Scott's cross from the left took a deflection off a visiting defender in the box as Lynn opened the visiting defence up again.

Culverhouse and his coaching team of Paul Bastock and Joe Simpson would have been desperate to have got something against their former club going into today's latest instalment

And the antics of the visiting bench saw the name of Crowther go into the referee's notebook for a nothing tackle on the touchline.

But the defender had the last laugh as he rose highest from Michael Clunan's corner to double the home side's advantage seven minutes before the break.

Cries of you're getting sacked in the morning were directed towards the visiting bench as Culverhouse watched his side deliver a display reminiscent to many of those in his final few weeks at Lynn.

The Pilgrims introduced Mitford into the fray at the start of the second half as they desperately tried to find a way back into the contest.

An audacious overhead kick from Scott almost put Lynn three goals to the good a minute after the restart but his effort was just inches over the woodwork.

Linnets boss Widdrington talked himself into another booking before his side were forced into an enforced change as Omotayo left the pitch with a eye injury to be replaced by Charles.

The encounter was then held held up for five minutes after both sets of supporters spilled onto the side of the pitch and fighting ensued.

Order was eventually restored before Lynn were reduced to ten men for the final quarter of the game after a coming together between Jake Wright and Jones on the far side of the pitch.

Lynn defended brilliantly during a difficult period and, despite the visitors enjoying plenty of the ball, the Pilgrims created very little in the way of clear-cut openings.

A brilliant tackle from Keenan Ferguson on Charles denied Lynn a certain third before Mitford charged through to net a consolation for the visitors in the sixth minute of added time.

King's Lynn Town: P. Jones, A. Jones, Scott, Denton, Coulson, Crowther, Clunan, Widdrington, Barrett (Walker 89), Stephens (Oxlade-Chamberlain 66), Omotayo (Charles 55). Subs not used: McFadden and Blair.

Booked: Crowther, Omotayo, Scott; Sent-off: A Jones.

Scorers: Scott 11, Crowther 38.

Boston United: Long, Platt, S Pollock, Burrow, Wright (Starbuck 77), Ferguson, B. Pollock, McLintock (Atkinson 58), Mills, Pearson, Lewis (Mitford 46). Subs not used: Solanke, Shiels.

Booked: Burrows, S. Pollock, Pearson.

Scorer: Mitford 90+6.

Attendance: 2,124.