King's Lynn Town 0 Chester 0

King’s Lynn Town produced the grit and determination demanded by manager Adam Lakeland to pick up an unlikely point.

Chester, fourth at the start of play, would have been odds-on favourites against a Linnets side that has been oozing confidence in recent weeks.

But Lynn dug deep and although they were indebted to keeper Paul Jones for three top-drawer saves within two minutes as the game moved into the final 10 minutes, they were more than worthy of a point.

Lakeland made three changes to the team which capitulated at home to Curzon in midweek, with a surprise start for his assistant Sam Walker, who has played just 14 minutes since the pair moved to The Walks in early October – it proved an inspired choice.

Strikers Owen Devonport and Bartosz Cybulski came in to pep up a faltering attack. Out went midfielders Quevin Castro and Gabriel Rogers and striker Jonny Margetts.

The visitors had a half chance on 14 minutes, Charlie Caton just unable to get his boot on the end of Nathan Woodthorpe’s cross from the left.

It had been unappetising stuff from both sides up until then – and after – but as the minutes ticked by Lynn did at least begin to look something approaching settled - even though all the play was in their own half.

While frustration was never far away, Chester rarely troubled Paul Jones, although Georges Glendon gave him an anxious moment when he hooked one over just before the interval.

Greg Taylor could have eased a lot of nerves early in the second when he found himself five yards from goal with the ball at his feet – keeper Wyll Stanway blocked his shot.

Lynn were showing more signs of attacking life after the interval, and there were big claims for a penalty when George Morrison went down under Tom Peers’ challenge.

Walker’s race was run and he departed for the fresher legs of Castro, with Margetts replacing Cybulski.

But it was keeper Jones who became the Lynn hero - on 81 minutes he got down brilliantly to his left to deny Glendon from 10 yards and two minutes later he denied Glendon again and then Elliott Whitehouse.

King’s Lynn Town: Jones, Ronan, McFadden, Taylor, Coulson (c), Hargreaves, Walker (Castro 78), Morrison, Crowe, Devonport (Hughes 89), Cybulski (Margetts 78). Subs not used: Rogers, Dixon-Hodge.

Chester: Stanway, Woodthorpe, Weeks, Burke, Williams, Peers, Glendon, Caton, Whitehouse, Daly (Heywood 69), Okeke (Taylor 69). Subs not used: Windsor, Norton, Hall.

Att: 847