Kings Lynn Town 3, Alvechurch 0

ALVECHURCH face another season in Evo-Stik Southern League Central after hosts King Lynn eased their way to victory, booking a trip to Warrington Town in the process for Saturday’s super play-off.

Ian Long’s side earned their visit to East Anglia with a battling victory over Stourbridge on Saturday but they were second best in this encounter and struggled to create anything of note once the Linnets had taken an early lead.

Church keeper Dan Crane was alert to snuff out an early chance for former Kidderminster Harriers dangerman Michael Gash but was beaten on ten minutes when striker Adam Marriott managed to make room for a shot and drilling the ball into the back of the net.

Ross Barrows then had a chance from distance but fired straight at the visiting keeper while Church were kept at arm’s length by some excellent Lynn defending - their best option coming in the form of Tom Tonks’ trademark long throws.

Just before the half-hour mark, the home fans thought their side had won a penalty when Chris Henderson went down in the area only for the referee to book the Linnets midfielder instead for simulation.

Home keeper Alex Street was finally forced into a save when Tom Turton’s cross picked out Josh March but his header lacked power.

Then, two minutes before the interval, Crane was forced into an excellent save at the other end, pushing away a low Marriott strike following good work from Jordan Richards.

The Church keeper was in the thick of things again right at the start of the second half, pulling off a fine double save to deny Barrows and Marriott. But when the resulting corner came in, Henderson was fouled by Andre Landell inside the area and Marriott made no mistake from the spot, sending the keeper the wrong way.

James Roberts had a rare effort on target for the visitors when he picked up a Dave Bellis pass only for Street to deny him but it was the Linnets who wrapped things up late on when a Michael Clunan corner was headed in by Gash.

Church: Crane, Foster, K Morrison, Turton (Cook 67), Willets, Carter, Bellis, Tonks (Botfield 55), Landell (T Morrison 55), Roberts, March. Subs (not used): Winwood, Price.

Att: 1,617