The Marketmen suffer at the hands of the on-song Linnet's!!
Four first half Linnet strikes and a red card sealed the fate for the disappointing Marketmen..
After a good win at Hitchin could the Marketmen continue pressing on with their pursuit of a play-off berth. They made one change to the starting XI. With Luke Ingram coming back in at number 7 and Joseph Marsden dropping back to right back as Jake Dye started on the bench.
The first 25 minutes of this game definitely belonged to Kings Lynn. They came straight out of the blocks and within the first two minutes they had created the first chance when the number 3, Frazer Blake-Tracy on his first run down the left sent in an inviting cross which the centre forward Michael Gash just headed wide.
They however were forced to make an early substitution when the 2, Jordan Richards suffered an injury and had to be replaced by Matthew Castellan.
The visitors continued to pressure the Marketmen's goal, number 8 Craig Parker received a great ball from midfield and put in a good cross, which was met by an attacker who flicked it just wide. The 3 who was a constant threat down the left saw a cross gathered up by Jake Jessup before it could cause any danger and moments later provided a cross which number 7 got his head to but couldn't quite find the direction, sending it past the post.
With just over 10 minutes gone Kings Lynn surged forward once more, with number 11 Ryan Hawkins, he played a good ball in to Michael Gash, who cleverly chested down into the path of Craig Parker, who measured his shot smashing it passed the keeper and into the corner of the net. 1-0 KLTFC – 12 Mins.
After the restart Dan Morphew sustained an injury whilst clearing his lines. He returned to pitch and carried on, but it was clear he was struggling and the bench prepared his replacement. However before the change could be made the visitors had again, ventured down the left with their 3 running on, he then sent in a good ball to pick out number 10, Adam Marriott, who had the simple task of sliding it into the net. 2-0 KLTFC – 14 Mins.
The Marketmen then did make the necessary change as Jake Dye came on for Dan Morphew. This meant a little re-shuffle was required. Jake Dye went into his customary right back slot with Joseph Marsden pushing up to right wing, Luke Ingram was sent up front as James Baker slotted into the centre half position.
Kings Lynn continued to control the game and keep the Marketmen busy at the back. They used the wings effectively causing problems and also continued to create shooting opportunities, although most of them would have registered in the 'off-target' column.
Needham who up to this point had only bit and pieces and were clearly struggling to cope early on. It wasn't until the 25 minute the Marketmen created the first real chance. After their first bit of real play in which Jeremiah Kamanzi ran at the defence and tried to put a cross in, but it was blocked at the expense of a corner. The resulting corner was taken by Callum Sturgess who drifted it across the box, where Adam Mills ran across to meet it and got a strong head to it directing it passed the keeper, Alexander Street, and into the roof of the net. 2-1 KLTFC – 26 Mins.
A couple of minutes Kings Lynn were once again on the front foot when Ryan Hawkins won the ball in midfield and ran on goal wards, he sized up the shot but this time is was not on target. The left back also continued the regular forays down the left and delivering some good balls that tested the Marketmen's defensive skills. Shortly afterwards it was another run by the visitor's Ryan Hawkins that threatened to cause a problem, luckily there was a Marketmen defender to get in the way, knocking it behind for a corner. The corner itself was lofted into the area and only half cleared, as was the header Kings Lynn put back into the box. On the second occasion the ball fell to number 6, Rory McAuley on the edge of the box, he hit it on the volley and it sailed passed everyone crashing in into the back of the net. 3-1 KLTFC – 33 Mins.
Needham responded well with a good move, Gareth Heath gained the ball and fed Joseph Marsden out on the right, he in turn delivered a useful cross where it was met by Adam Mills, but unfortunately he sent his shot over the bar.
A minute or two later Kings Lynn had possession in midfield and played a lovely through ball to Craig Parker, who chance to run through on goal. He did so with good composure rounding the keeper and calmly slotting the ball home. 4-1 KLTFC – 37 Mins.
With Kings Lynn firmly on top they did try a couple of pot shots from long range but these did not trouble the Marketmen defence or keeper. Needham did try to respond and get themselves back into the game. A Callum Sturgess corner was met by a Marketmen head but the effort was cleared and Joseph Marsden won the ball in midfield to give Adam Mills the chance to cross, which was also dealt well with by the Kings Lynn defence.
Just before the break the Marketmen played a ball forward but play was halted for a push of the ball on a Kings Lynn defender. Adam Mills was called over by the ref along with captain Gareth Heath, a discussion took place and yellow card was warranted for Adam's offence. However this was his second one and he left the field a little frustrated.
The visitors started the second half in the similar fashion and continued to control the proceedings. With a nice cushion and finding space to pass it around, they once more put a couple of good balls into the danger area, but luckily for the Marketmen no Kings Lynn player could quite connect to them.
With ten minutes of the half gone Needham made their second change of the afternoon to try to change things around and brought on Tariq Issa in place of Jeremiah Kamanzi.
Needham did battle harder in the second half and showed willingness to retrieve something from the encounter. Luke Ingram won the ball in the visitor's half and forged his way forward, managing to get a shot in, unfortunately it was gathered up by the keeper.
This was shortly followed by a good Marketmen move. Come down the left Tariq Issa gave the ball to Callum Sturgess who got passed his man to put a ball across the area. It eluded everyone in the middle but came to Jake Dye on the right hand side of the area. He tried a shot across the goal but the angle wasn't quite right and it sped past the goal and was retrieved by Gareth Heath, who put it over once more, again it came to towards Jake Dye, but alas this time he could not get anything on it.
The Marketmen created another opportunity a couple of minutes later. Again it was Tariq Issa that attacked down the left and gave Callum Sturgess another chance to put a ball across into the area. This time it found the head of Luke Ingram who directed his effort goal wards but the Kings Lynn keeper was alert and gathered the ball.
The visitors weathered this brief storm and put together their own attacking plays. The number 3, like in the first half was a constant threat when he came forward. Also, the number 11 Ryan Hawkins was involved in a couple of opportunities, firstly as a provider he slid a dangerous looking ball in towards the six yard box, where it just eluded the number 10's boot and went out of play. Moments later he got on the end of a quick break and went goal wards, but Gareth Heath managed to get a toe to the ball in the nick of time to clear the danger. At this point they made a change in midfield by bringing on Aaron Jones in place of Ryan Jarvis.
The Kings Lynn's number 11 wasn't quite finished yet as after some good hold up play by Michael Gash, he had a strike at goal which was wide of the target.
In between time, the Marketmen had ventured forward and set up Tariq Issa with shooting chance, he couldn't quite get hold of it sending it high and wide. The same outcome was true of his effort from a free kick shortly afterwards. The Marketmen then made their final change bringing on Reece Dobson for Luke Ingram.
With the end of the match approaching Joseph Marsden had the final two opportunities for the Marketmen. The first one he got on the end of a move that allowed him to have a pop at goal, but the effort did not have the power to beat the keeper, who gathered the up the ball. The second opportunity was a decent one, Jake Dye played a good ball up to release Reece Dobson, who ran on and put in a decent cross which Joseph Marsden got on the end of. His shot however was tipped over the bar by the Kings Lynn keeper.
That was the last real chance for both sides and Kings Lynn saw out the final seconds to seal the victory to take all 3 points back to Norfolk.
A disappointing game for the Marketmen, especially the first 45, which I suspect has been already addressed. With 19 games still to play there is still a lot to play for. We are in a great place to challenge for one of the play-off places, which I'm sure the team and the team management will do everything they can to make it happen.