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King's Lynn knocked off top spot as National League North title race takes another twist




King's Lynn Town 1 Buxton 1

A topsy-turvy National League North title race took another twist this evening as King's Lynn Town relinquished top spot after another draw at The Walks.

Aaron Cosgrave fired Tommy Widdrington's side ahead before half-time before Buxton substitute Diego De Girolamo equalised after the break as Lynn surrendered a winning position for the second home game in succession.

It was harsh on Lynn who had been kept at bat by former goalkeeper Theo Richardson in the opening 20 minutes of the second half.

With AFC Fylde beating Farsley Celtic 3-1 at Mill Farm, the Coasters returned to the summit and now lead Lynn by two points with a game in hand.

King's Lynn Town v Buxton at The Walks. Picture: Tim Smith (62717363)
King's Lynn Town v Buxton at The Walks. Picture: Tim Smith (62717363)
King's Lynn Town v Buxton at The Walks. Picture: Tim Smith (62717365)
King's Lynn Town v Buxton at The Walks. Picture: Tim Smith (62717365)
King's Lynn Town v Buxton at The Walks. Picture: Tim Smith (62717367)
King's Lynn Town v Buxton at The Walks. Picture: Tim Smith (62717367)
King's Lynn Town v Buxton at The Walks. Picture: Tim Smith (62717369)
King's Lynn Town v Buxton at The Walks. Picture: Tim Smith (62717369)
King's Lynn Town v Buxton at The Walks. Picture: Tim Smith (62717371)
King's Lynn Town v Buxton at The Walks. Picture: Tim Smith (62717371)
King's Lynn Town v Buxton at The Walks. Picture: Tim Smith (62717373)
King's Lynn Town v Buxton at The Walks. Picture: Tim Smith (62717373)
King's Lynn Town v Buxton at The Walks. Picture: Tim Smith (62717375)
King's Lynn Town v Buxton at The Walks. Picture: Tim Smith (62717375)
King's Lynn Town v Buxton at The Walks. Picture: Tim Smith (62717361)
King's Lynn Town v Buxton at The Walks. Picture: Tim Smith (62717361)

Lynn were dealt a double injury blow before the game as manager Widdrington made three changes from the weekend.

Goalkeeper Paul Jones was missing with a broken finger sustained in the 3-3 draw at AFC Fylde and Tyler Denton was also ruled out through injury while Ben Stephens dropped to the bench.

Jones' absence – the first since he signed back in the summer of 2021 – led to a debut for on-loan Norwich City goalkeeper Sam Blair between the posts.

Also coming into the side were Jacob Jones and Aaron Cosgrave as Lynn went into the clash looking to regain the winning thread at home.

The meeting saw a return to the club for Buxton shotstopper Richardson, who spent a brief spell on loan at The Walks back in 2021.

Buxton made a bright start as a heavy drizzle swirled across the pitch and Lynn were relieved to see Tommy Elliott's early effort find the side-netting.

Luck was on Lynn's side midway through the first half as Elliott's shot took a ricochet back to him and his second attempt was gratefully clutched onto by Blair.

The home faithful had to wait 30 minutes for Lynn's first half attempt as Josh Barrett's long-range free-kick forced Richardson into a stop to his right.

It took some quick-thinking from Barrett to unlock the door for Lynn's first goal.

Barrett's first-time pass picked out Cosgrave who took a touch before brilliantly lobbing the ball over the Bucks custodian and into an empty net.

It was almost 2-0 three minutes later as Gold Omotayto's header from Michael Clunan's corner just dropped the wrong side of the post.

Eight minutes after the restart a defence-splitting pass from Aaron Jones found Cosgrave who played in Omotayo only for the frontman to be denied by Richardson.

The Buxton goalkeeper kept his side in the game at the start of the second period as he pulled off brilliant stops to deny Josh Coulson on the half-volley and then a powerful header from Omotayo which he acrobatically turned over his woodwork.

Lynn had been in the ascendancy but were undone from a corner 18 minutes after the restart as Bucks substitute De Girolamo levelled with virtually his first touch.

Omotayo glanced another header wide as Widdrington's side surged forward in search of a goal that their second half efforts had deserved while Barrett went close with another one of his magic tricks.

King's Lynn Town: Blair, A. Jones, J. Jones (Oxlade-Chamberlain 76), Crowther, Coulson, Callan-McFadden (Stephens 90), Widdrington, Clunan, Barrett, Cosgrave (Ponticelli 81), Omotayo.

Buxton: Richardson, Brown, Conway (De Girolamo 62), Granite, Kirby, Elliott, Clarke (Brisley 76), Poole, Hull, McCourt, Ackroyd (Jackson 62).

Attendance: 847.



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