King’s Lynn boost National League North survival hopes with victory at play-off chasers Brackley Town
Brackley Town 1 King’s Lynn Town 3
King's Lynn gave their National League North survival hopes a shot in the arm with a huge victory at play-off chasing Brackley Town tonight.
The Linnets made it back-to-back wins in the league for the first time this season thanks to goals from Owen Devonport, Kyle Callan-McFadden and assistant boss Sam Walker.
Devonport's second successive goal was cancelled out by Danny Newton two minutes before the break.
But second-half goals from Callan-McFadden - his first for the club in 110 appearances - and substitute Walker sealed a memorable three points at St James Park.
After the game, delighted boss Adam Lakeland said: “I thought we were great for the whole game. This is one of the hardest places to come this year and they’re a really good side.
“I watched them a couple of weeks ago at Southport and by a distance they were the better team for 70 minutes but then took their foot off the gas and let them back into it.
“I’ve been here numerous times and you know that you have to stand up and be counted and compete and deal with the quality they have, the balls they put in your box and the way they work set-plays.
“I thought our concentration today and discipline to do our defensive duties, whilst executing our set plays right and having one or two moments to have the chances we did was outstanding and I’m incredibly pleased for the players tonight.”
On Callan-McFadden’s performance, Lakeland added: “He’s the same as he is every week. He’s reliable, you know what you’re getting and he is a manager’s dream.
“Every single week he’s a seven or an eight out of ten, some weeks he’ll be a nine but probably with him getting that goal today, you’d say it was a nine or ten out of ten performance.
“He was superb but then I thought all of our backline were as you look at their strikers; Newton and Connor Hall, all of the goals those lads can score, Armison arriving from midfield and their wing-backs, they are a good side and they ask questions of you.
“Your backline have got to be resolute and I felt all of the centre-halves did particularly well, especially in the second half, but Macca with getting his goal was the standout.”
Lakeland's side were playing their first game for more than a fortnight following the weekend postponement at Alfreton, having secured a 2-1 success at Gloucester City in their previous outing.
Lynn went into the game without injured striker Johnny Margetts while goalkeeper Tommy Dixon-Hodge, midfielder Tommy Hughes and frontman Harley Curtis were also missing from the squad.
Tonight’s victory also maintained Lynn’s proud unbeaten record against Brackley, having never lost against the Saints in seven matches.
The Linnets still remain in the bottom four of the table, level on points with Rushall Olympic in 20th, who have a better goal difference.
On Saturday, they are back in home action for the first time since for almost a month when Farsley Celtic are the visitors to the Walks.
King's Lynn Town: Jones, Ronan, McFadden, Taylor, Coulson, Crowe, Hargreaves, Castro (Walker 73), Morrison, Stephens (Cybulski 83), Devonport.