Kings Lynn Town 2 Peterborough Sports 1

Emirates FA Cup Fourth Qualifying Round, Saturday 16th October

Saturday saw me make my first ever trip to The Walks where Vanarama National Kings Lynn came from behind to defeat Southern League Premier Central leaders Peterborough Sports to reach the First Round Proper of the competition.

The Linnets have had a difficult start to their National League campaign, and are only out of the bottom three on goal difference, whereas Sports were having a tremendous season having picked up 25 out of a possible 33 so far in the Southern League Premier Central Division, which is two steps below the National League.

Despite the gap in the pyramid, many, including some of the home stewards in the ground I spoke to prior to kick off, felt Lynn would struggle to beat their lower league opposition, confidence wasn't exactly high in the hosts camp and they were coming up against a very ambitious Sports side who had a couple of ex-Linnets in the squad.

One of those players was Michael Gash, who had already netted several times for the visitors in this seasons competition, this was the visitors fourth game already and this was their third straight away tie, and they had got to this stage with wins over Haringey Borough, Great Wakering Rovers & AFC Dunstable, whereas Lynn were taking part in their first FA Cup outing this term.

So how would this one pan out, it certainly had the makings of an intriguing cup tie that was for sure, and the visitors were backed by a decent following amongst the 1,013 that had attended, and the hosts had an early chance when Rowley ran onto a superb through ball from Clunan, however the former could on loft over the onrushing keeper and wide, but in the 17th minute the hosts were to find themselves behind.

And it was who else but Gash who found some space inside the box to fire into the bottom corner, it was almost inevitable that he would find the net against his former club, and he had now put Lynn into a hole they needed to climb out of, if confidence was low before kick off, it wasn't being helped right now, whereas Sports were in dreamland.

Lynn did respond quite well and saw a Clunan header go wide before a Jones cross was met by the head of Omotayo, but he could only place this into the side netting, but as the half entered it's last ten or so minutes, Sports did have openings to double their lead, with the best one seeing Gash put a ball into the box but the header was straight at the keeper.

But Lynn were to find a leveller themselves in first half stoppage time, as after a McGavin corner saw a header tipped over for another corner, McGavin swung another one into the box and Omotayo sent a powerful header at goal and saw it nestle in the top corner, and the hosts were level at the best possible time going into the changing room.

Sports would have been frustrated with conceding right at the end of the half, and they would have been even more frustrated at not restoring their lead early in the second period and but for a brilliant close range stop from Lynn keeper Paul Jones to deny Ferris, the visitors would have been back in front, and they nearly fell behind soon after when Linton put in a great ball to the near post where Rowley could only put wide.

Rowley collided with a defender in the process and after several minutes of treatment had to be stretchered off, which was not good to see, I have since heard that there is no break/fracture of the ankle, so that is some good news at least, but he will hopefully be back soon for the home side, anyway just past the hour mark Lynn did go in front, and it was Rowley's replacement Barrett, who was making his debut, who created the goal.

The substitute's brilliant skill eventually saw McGavin, creator of the first goal of course, run onto the end of the deflected effort from Barrett and slot a lovely finish across the keeper and into the far corner, sending the home crowd into celebration mode, they were around half an hour plus a lot of stoppage time away from a First Round berth.

Sports were not going to give up easily though, and after a couple of flashpoints, the second one a rather poor challenge from Sports Stevenson on Coleman which resulted in a yellow card for the visiting player, the visitors missed some guilt edged chances to level the tie up, Fernandez somehow blocked a goal bound effort on the line, and then Jones had to make a smart stop from the resulting corner.

Nicholson then shot wide of the hosts post after a mistake from Linton, and then Richard Jones put an effort over the bar as the game entered ten minutes of stoppage time, mainly due to the stoppage for Rowley's treatment, but despite some nervy minutes for the home crowd, they held on to take their place in the next round.

A great effort from Peterborough Sports though and to be honest were very unlucky to have lost this tie, they bow out but can hold their heads high, whereas Kings Lynn will breathe a sigh of relief that they got through, and they have been drawn at home to League Two Walsall in three weekends time, can they upset the League Two strugglers? We shall find out soon enough...

Full time Kings Lynn Town 2 Peterborough Sports 1