County face the first of two long-distance away trips this week when we travel to National League strugglers King’s Lynn Town on Tuesday, looking to make it an incredible 20 games unbeaten in all competitions.
That amazing long unbeaten run looked in serious threat at the weekend as we trailed 2-0 to Wealdstone at half-time, before roaring back in the second-half to win 4-2, and maintain our seven point lead at the top of the table.
Elsewhere on Saturday there were wins for Chesterfield and Halifax, who both remain seven points off the pace, and Wrexham could only draw 0-0 at Bromley, slipping eleven points behind County with a game in hand. Wrexham and Halifax go head to head at The Racecourse on Tuesday night, whilst Chesterfield are at Altrincham.
At the other end of the table King’s Lynn managed a vital victory of their own at the weekend, ending an eight-game winless run by beating Aldershot 3-0 away from home to keep their hopes of survival in the National League alive.
Since we last met:
Our home game against The Linnets back in November turned out to be our joint biggest win of the season so far, as goals from Jordan Keane, Ryan Rydel, Ollie Crankshaw, Ben Barclay and a dream Connor Jennings strike on his return saw us cruise to a win 5-0 at Edgeley Park.
That loss, a seventh in a row in the National League for the Norfolk side, left them 22nd in the table, above only Dover in the league with eight points from their first 16 games.
Just six days later, following another loss at home to relegation rivals Aldershot, the Club parted company with manager Ian Culverhouse. The former Norwich City defender had been in charge of the club since 2018, leading them to back-to-back promotions to the National League for the first time in their history, but after a 21st place finish last season the Club decided to act, with the threat of relegation looming large.
Coming in as his replacement was Tommy Widdrington, who joined the club shortly after leaving his role as a Director at League Two Bristol Rovers, for what is his first permanent managerial role since leaving Eastbourne Borough in 2017.
He got off to the perfect start too, as the day after his appointment he saw his new team end that losing streak with a 2-1 win at home to Dover thanks to two goals from midfielder Josh Barrett, who had previously worked with Widdrington at Bristol Rovers.
It hasn’t quite been smooth sailing since then however for the former Hartlepool midfielder as wins have remained hard to come by – just two in 15 National League games since that Dover game, against fellow strugglers Weymouth and Aldershot.
Performances have improved though under their new manager, as has their points per game record, collecting 13 from his 16 league games in charge. A poor record of just two wins and eight points at home all season has been a major concern for this young King’s Lynn side, with only Dover picking up fewer home points so far.
It’s a record Widdrington will know needs to improve quickly if they are to remain in the National League for a third season, with the gap to Aldershot and safety standing at a daunting ten points; but that convincing win at The Shots at the weekend has seen them narrow the gap, should give them plenty of belief heading into the final stage of the season.
One to Watch:
The Linnets have struggled for goals all season, with only Dover and Yeovil scoring fewer than their 32 league goals so far, but one man who has had no trouble finding the net lately has been striker Malachi Linton.
The 21-year-old is currently on a season-long loan at The Walks Stadium from Wycombe Wanderers, and is the club’s top scorer in the National League with eight. Four of those goals have come in his last four games, including a brace at the weekend in that win at Aldershot.
Match Stats:
- This will be just the fourth ever meeting between County and King’s Lynn Town, with County winning the previous three games 4-0, 4-0 and 5-0. We did also once face King’s Lynn FC back in 1912 before they folded and were reformed – a 7-2 away win in the FA Cup.
- Three goals in his last two games has taken Paddy Madden’s tally to 16 league goals for the season – only Kabongo Tshimanga has scored more.
- Antoni Sarcevic has now won the last eleven games he’s played in all competitions for County. In 20 starts for the Club so far, County have won 16.
