Match Report: King’s Lynn Town 3-1 South Shields

King’s Lynn strengthened their grasp on a play-off spot as they out-fought South Shields throughout in an eventually comfortable 3-1 victory. Shields found themselves chasing the game against a physical and imposing Lynn side and, despite late efforts in the second half, were unable to earn a point as their woes on the road continue.

Coming into the game after back-to-back wins at home, the Mariners were full of confidence against a side they had already beaten this campaign, thanks to an action-packed 2-1 victory over today’s opponents back in November.

This game already held a contrasting atmosphere, though, as the hosts started strongly and made use of Freddie Sass’ considerable throw-ins into the penalty area. After Shields failed to clear an early set-piece inside ten minutes, captain Robert Briggs vitally intervened twice on the goal line to deny Josh McCammon after he had initially blocked Josh Hmami’s goal bound effort.

Referee, Harry Warner, then took centre stage just twelve minutes in when Jonny Margetts went down under a challenge in penalty area for King’s Lynn. Warner was well placed and immediately waved away the claims and with there looking like contact was made, the home side felt disgruntled to have not been awarded a spot-kick.

The pressure eventually did tell, though, as just after the half-hour mark when McCammon dispossessed David Carson thirty yards from goal. The midfielder picked out Margetts whose initial strike was saved, however the ball landed kindly to the feet of Gold Omotayo who was on hand to tap calmly into the vacant net to give King’s Lynn the lead.

Shields hit back soon after going behind, though, and equalised just six minutes later. A rare foray forward saw Mackenzie Heaney win a free-kick thirty yards from goal on the left. The full-back’s inviting ball into the box was met by the head of Briggs who nodded in his first goal of the season to level up for the visitors against the run of play.

However, after working so hard to find a route back into the game, Shields were left frustrated and dumbfounded going into the break when Heaney and Boney collided over an innocuous bouncing ball. Away players and fans alike could only watch on in horror just three minutes from time as the ball rolled into the penalty area and to the feet of Margetts who had anticipated the miscommunication and strolled through to tap home and restore the home side’s lead just before the break.

As the second half got underway, the game’s spark was finally lit when Greg Taylor and Ashton Mee’s disagreement just inside the home side’s half caused a small clash between the two midfielders. What followed next were four alarmingly intense challenges much to the approval of the energised crowd. However, Hmami’s final tackle of the passage was out of control and caught Heaney high on the shin with two feet raised. Outraged at the nature of the challenge, Heaney’s retaliation caused the majority of both squads to converge on the halfway line in a lengthy and intense scuffle.

Eventually, the referee was able to diffuse the situation, booking Heaney and Hmami for their involvement, with Shields rightfully feeling aggrieved that the King’s Lynn midfielder remained on the pitch after his reckless tackle.

The game spat and simmered throughout the second half as Shields desperately rolled the dice for an equaliser. Despite having possession for much of the second period, it was King’s Lynn who came closest to the next goal on two occasions. First, Boney did well to deny Omotayo a second goal from close range before McCammon passed up a gilt-edged chance to seal the game fifteen minutes from time when he went through one on one and stroked the ball just wide of the post with the keeper beaten.

The home side did not live to rue their missed chances, though, when another dangerous set-piece came into the area from the left. After neither side reacted to the bouncing ball in the six-yard box, Omotayo was on hand to react quickest and thump the ball mercilessly into the corner from point-blank range to all but seal the deal just two minutes from time.

There would be no late scares in the five additional minutes as Shields were forced to concede another defeat on the road. They stay thirteenth, thirteen points behind the play-offs and will need to react fast with three more away games following in ten days, starting with a trip to Radcliffe on Tuesday night.

King’s Lynn Town: Jones, Coulson, Sass, Wilson, Crowe, Armstrong, Taylor, McCammon (Forde-Brown, 90), Hmami, Margetts (Williams, 72), Omotayo (Crane, 90)

Unused Substitutes: Ronan, Barnes

Goals: Omotayo (32’, 89’), Margetts (42’)

South Shields: Boney, Hughes, Briggs, Shepherd, Heaney, Smith (Myers-Smith, 78) Carson, Mee (Ward, 60), Jenkins, Blackett, Crossley

Unused Substitutes: Seymour, Sloan, McGowan

Goals: Briggs (38’)

Attendance: 966

Image Credit: Kev Wilson

(@KevWilson19)