King's Lynn v Weymouth: Cameron King earns point for hosts

Denton 29, King 35

WEYMOUTH 2

Dallas 13, Robinson 30

WEYMOUTH were twice pegged back by King’s Lynn Town as the Terras had to settle for a point in their Vanarama National League contest at the Walks.

Andy Dallas put Weymouth into an early lead before Tyler Denton’s piledriver levelled the scores.

Andy Robinson re-established the Terras’ advantage with a stunning 25-yarder but the Linnets clawed their way back again in a mad first half as Cameron King weaved his way into the box to finish.

Weymouth earned a fifth point in five games but may be the unhappier of the sides after boss Brian Stock made two changes to the side that began the 3-1 derby loss to Yeovil in midweek.

Josh Leslie-Smith and Jordan Ngalo dropped down to the bench, allowing striker Ben Thomson and left-back Ollie Harfield to come back in.

Leslie-Smith and Ngalo were joined in the dugout by winger Pierre Fonkeu, striker Cody Cooke and attacking midfielder Joan Luque.

There was still no place in the squad for skipper Josh McQuoid (hamstring) or goalkeeper Gerard Benfield (disciplinary), with Calvin Brooks in line to don the gloves if necessary.

King's Lynn, meanwhile, made two changes from their 5-1 thrashing of Barnet in midweek as midfielder Tai Fleming and defender Chris Smith came in.

Going into the game Weymouth knew any points earned at the Linnets, who are threatening to stop play after this game amid the National League’s financial dilemma, could be lost if the hosts’ results are later expunged.

King’s Lynn leapfrogged Weymouth out of the relegation zone after their 5-1 win over Barnet in midweek, and made a good start to this contest.

Michael Gash, fresh from a brace against the Bees, could not rediscover his scoring touch in the sixth minute, skying a volley well over.

And Weymouth capitalised when pouncing on a defensive error from Smith as Brooks intercepted his wayward ball into midfield and played in Dallas who clinically fired in his fifth goal of the season after 12 minutes.

Andy Dallas, right, put Weymouth 1-0 up Picture: MARK PROBIN

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Weymouth had rattled their hosts and should have taken a 2-0 lead five minutes later when Brooks saw his cross narrowly headed over by Sean Shields at the back post.

Lynn came back into it with their patient build-up play and, after Terras’ keeper Ethan Ross saved from Alex Kiwomya, the hosts equalised with a stunning goal.

King, who impressed throughout, teed up Denton on the left of the box to bullet an unstoppable striker past Ross for his first goal since joining from Chesterfield.

Weymouth’s reply was equally brilliant as King’s Lynn, again suffering a brain fade at the back, thrice failed to clear their lines as Robinson lashed home a powerful drive from 25 yards.

Lynn striker Adam Marriott, who missed a penalty and scored the Linnets’ goal in a 2-1 loss at Weymouth in October, headed wide before the hosts equalised again.

Gash and Marriott combined in a lovely move and King then skipped through the Weymouth defence before slotting past Ross for a third goal in six minutes.

At the end of a pulsating half, the Linnets went desperately close to scoring a third when King and Marriott were denied in a goalmouth scramble.

King and Shields shots failed to trouble their opposition keepers after the restart before Gash headed a Fleming cross at Ross as the action died down.

Midway through the second period, Stock elected to bring on Luque for Brooks, while his opposite number Ian Culverhouse brought off Marriott for Dayle Southwell.

With both sides making like-for-like changes, the match was still in the balance with 22 minutes remaining.

But both sides failed to make the most of promising positions, Weymouth when Ben Thomson was penalised and King’s Lynn when Sonny Carey’s corner was easily dealt with.

King’s Lynn continued that trend as Weymouth stoutly defended another corner before Brennan Camp was fouled by Kyle Callan-McFadden, who earned a one-game ban for his fifth booking.

But the Linnets edged forward to win a corner in the 88th minute and Weymouth were relieved to see Ross save from Gash’s header.

Immediately after that chance, Weymouth earned themselves a corner but Shields’ delivery was too close to sub Jordan Richards and the hosts cleared.

Compared to the first half, the second petered out as the sides had to settle for a point following a tame finish to the game.

Weymouth may feel the less satisfied with the result having twice led, taking their tally of points lost from winning positions to 20 this season.

Stock’s men are back in action at home to Stockport on Saturday (3pm).

King's Lynn: Mair, Callan-McFadden, Smith, Clunan, Gash, Marriott (Southwell 68), Fleming, King, Kiwomya (Richards 80), Carey, Denton. Subs not used: Gyasi, Jarvis, Mitchell.

Terras: Ross, Camp, McCarthy, Thomson (Cooke 76), Robinson, Brooks (Luque 68), Dallas, Mensah, Revan, Harfield, Shields. Subs not used: Fonkeu, Leslie-Smith, Ngalo.

Referee: Scott Simpson