Lynn faced one of their toughest tests of the season, taking on runaway league leaders Tamworth in a televised match at The Walks. The reverse encounter at the Lamb Ground finished 3-1 to the Reds, with a Jordan Ponticelli consolation for the Linnets.
It was a scrappy beginning to the game, with next to no clear-cut chances for either side in the opening ten minutes. Stephens had Lynn’s first chance of the game, cutting onto his right foot and firing at goal but seeing his effort deflected and eventually cleared just after the 15th minute.
Devonport had the Linnets’ next chance just after the half-hour mark, with his shot rolling just wide of the post after a delightful bit of skill inside the box.
Jones came close to sparking a chance out of nothing a few minutes later, piledriving a goal-kick forward and finding Margetts. The striker drove forward, and found Stephens with a cross, but a poor touch killed the chance.
Wren had Tamworth’s best chance of the game to that point only seconds later, heading an effort at goal after some delicate passes, but Jones caught with ease.
There were huge appeals for a Lynn penalty just before the interval, with Tamworth number two Mattihas Curley appearing to catch the boot of Margetts after a 50/50, but this was waved away by the referee.
The teams went in goalless after a single minute of additional time.
The visitors took the lead only thirty seconds into the second half, getting forward quickly and scoring through a deflected effort from Kyle Finn.
Benjamin Acquaye came close to doubling Tamworth’s lead a couple of minutes later, picking up the ball from a Barrows clearance, but his shot fizzed just wide of Paul Jones’ near post.
Christopher Wren saw the first yellow of the game for kicking the ball away, with Acquaye also being booked a couple of minutes later for persistent fouls.
Attendance was announced as 1,227.
Liam Dolman saw yellow for dissent next, but was immediately replaced by Brad Gascoigne.
Lynn’s next opportunity came through Josh Coulson, who got on the end of a Stephens corner. The skipper nodded back across, but McFadden was out-jumped on the goal-line.
Curley was the fourth Tamworth player to be booked, committing the same offence as Wren.
Bartosz Cybulski replaced Ben Stephens 77 minutes in. The tall striker caused a number of issues for the visitors over the next few minutes, but couldn’t find the killer opportunity.
Yet another Tamworth player was booked 85 minutes in, with Singh seeing yellow for time-wasting. Sam Walker was cautioned seconds later for inadvertently stopping play.
89 minutes in and Lynn finally got the goal they’d been working for. A deflection saw Devonport get space in-behind, and a deflection took the forward’s shot into the net to send the Linnets into raptures.
Six minutes were added onto the second half, with Rogers replacing Devonport in the final minute of stoppage time.
Lynn’s unbeaten run now stretches to TEN!
