King’s Lynn Town end Weymouth’s promotion hopes

KING’S LYNN TOWN    3
Norman 13, Parker 15, King 39
WEYMOUTH    0

THREE fantastic goals in the first half from Cameron Norman, Craig Parker and Cameron King ended Weymouth’s promotion hopes as King’s Lynn Town took a 3-0 victory in their Evo-Stik Southern Premier Division play-off semi-final.

Weymouth had earned the tie by finishing fifth in the league while King’s Lynn Town finished three points and three places ahead of the Terras, who could not claw back their three-goal deficit.

Weymouth were unchanged after beating Hitchin Town 3-0 at the weekend, thanks to second half goals from Calvin Brooks, Abdulai Baggie and Brandon Goodship.

King’s Lynn Town made one change to the side that beat Chesham United 3-1 at the weekend as Ryan Fryatt came in for Dion Frary.

Heading into the match the Linnets could boast one league defeat at home all season, while the Terras had bagged 14 wins on the road in the league this season.

There was a penalty shout in the first minute when Michael Gash got into the box for the home side and went down but his appeals were waved away.

Moments later Baggie got through and fired a shot that King’s Lynn goalkeeper Alex Street got down to save.

Soon after Goodship had a fantastic chance as he went close after he one-on-one and took a shot that prompted another fine save from Street.

But after 13 minutes King’s Lynn took a huge step to victory with two goals in three minutes.

A foul by Thiago Caze da Silva gave away a free-kick 25 yards out that Norman planted into the right-hand corner of the net with a wonderful strike.

In the 15th minute Parker then fired a brilliant 30-yard half-volley past Weymouth goalkeeper Will Dennis into the net.

Eight minutes later Callum Buckley received a yellow card for a foul on Ryan Hawkins and from the free-kick the ball fell to Ryan Jarvis who hit his shot high and wide.

The home side were dominating and Weymouth were struggling to create chances to get themselves back into the game.

And the hosts lead was duly extended as King fired in a terrific 30-yard volley into the left-hand side of the goal to give Weymouth a mountain to climb if they were to maintain their promotion hopes.

King’s Lynn began the second half with good pressure on the Weymouth defence, who were doing well to hold firm.

Weymouth were trying to get forward and begin the comeback but when Ben Thomson had the ball taken off him Toby Hilliard raced down the other end and fired across goal.

Goodship then was about to shape a shot but Frazer Blake-Tracey cleared out for a Weymouth corner, which Gash subsequently cleared before Parker had an effort which Dennis had to clear away from his goalline.

Weymouth made a double substitution in the 59th minute to try and rescue something from the match.

Soon after Josh Carmichael had a long range shot drift wide.

Parker and Fryatt went close with two efforts in quick succession as the Linnets twice went close to making it four.

Corners from Simon Lappin were putting Weymouth under serious pressure late on as the Terras were forced into a tough spell of defending.

Norman then delivered a free-kick which Stephane Zubar cleared away as the Linnets were dominating late on.

Gash went close as he lifted a shot over the bar for the Linnets.

A shot from substitute Josh Wakefield saw Street come out of the Linnets’ goal and clear out for a corner, which was then dealt with by the home side’s defence.

Three minutes of added time were given but the match had gotten away from the Terras at this point.

The home side had been dominant, with their three superb first half efforts proving the difference between the two sides.

Weymouth could not come back and their superb season, that has seen them claim 30 league wins and 97 points, ends with defeat to the Linnets.

King’s Lynn now face a play-off final at home to Slough Town after their 3-1 triumph over Kettering Town, with the winner taking their place alongside champions Hereford in the National League South next season.

King’s Lynn Town: Street, Norman, Blake-Tracy, Lappin, Fryatt, Jarvis, King (McQuaid 89), Parker, Gash, Hilliard (Mettam 74), Hawkins (Ward 74). Subs not used: Mettam, Ward, Frary, McQuaid, Siddons

Terras: Dennis, Wells (Wakefield 59), Buckley, Zubar, Caze da Silva (Davis 46), Carmichael, McCarthy, Baggie (Baker 59), Thomson, Goodship, Brooks. Subs not used: Sa, Stewart

Attendance: 1,223