LINNETS MAINTAIN PRESSURE

IN SPITE of the heavy overnight rain, this match went ahead after a morning pitch inspection, allowing King’s Lynn to continue their pursuit of Hereford at the top of the table as they romped to their sixth successive win.

It only took the Linnets three minutes to take the lead when Simon Lappin’s corner from the right-hand side picked out towering central defender Tom Ward, who headed powerfully into the Stratford net.

And on 12 minutes the Linnets went two up from another Lapin corner as Stratford keeper Louis Connor spilled Michael Gash’s header and Ward prodded the loose ball over the line.

Four minutes later Stratford pulled one back when a Will Grocott corner was met by Loyiso Recci, and although the central defender’s header was hooked clear the linesman flagged that it had already crossed the line.

But the Linnets restored their two-goal advantage in the 36th minute when Gash’s cross from the left was fired past Connor by Leon Mettam from 15 yards out.

And five minutes after the half-time break the result was put beyond doubt when Stratford skipper Jimmy Fry unluckily deflected a Lappin cross into his own net.

Stratford did not give up the ghost, and Linnets goalkeeper Alex Street was called into action to push away a decent effort from Grocott before substitute Tom Siddons added their fifth nine minutes from time with an emphatic finish from the edge of the area.

King’s Lynn remain just a point behind the leaders, while Stratford are safely ensconsed in the middle of the table.