King's Lynn Town 3 South Shields 1

Adam Lakeland welcomed the return of Lady Luck to The Walks – but warned that a long-awaited home win was by no means the end to the Linnets’ problems.

Goals – three of them – and three points have been hard to come by, and while they elevated Lynn to 18th in the National League North table, the gap to the drop zone is still just a precarious three points.

Lady Luck shone her light on Paul Jones’s goal in the first half when the visitors had two big chances, one of which hit the post, but ultimately it was Jonny Margetts’ first-half brace which put Lynn in the driving seat, with Quevin Castro adding a 90th-minute insurance goal after South Shields pulled one back early in the second half.

Lakeland’s verdict was that his players were outstanding on the day, but the bigger picture is the league table. Lynn’s next three games before the televised clash at home to runaway leaders Tamworth sees them go to Blyth Spartans (17th) next weekend, Bishop’s Stortford (bottom) the following Tuesday before a home game against Rushall (20th) on March 16.

If Lynn’s six-match unbeaten run stretches to nine, nerves will be a little less shredded by the time the TV cameras set up.

“I think we've deserved that little bit of luck because we haven't had too much go our way, particularly here,” said Lakeland, after Lynn's first home win since November.

“It was a massive win for us and I’m so pleased to have won a game here because it's been long overdue and every credit to the players.

“Our form on the road has been tremendous - here we just haven't won enough games. I think there's been a hell of a lot of games that have been really close here where we just fell the wrong side of tight games or we've maybe edged a game and drawn it and not capitalised on our opportunities. Today, obviously scoring that goal, backing it up and going 2-0 up, it puts you in a really strong position.

“I think everybody, not just the players on the pitch but probably the people in the crowd felt that it was going to be a better day for us and hopefully we can just keep our good form going because that's undefeated in six, one defeat in nine. It's the draws really that have been probably hindering us moving up the table.

“But I'm a massive believer in building a mentality where you're hard to be and sometimes draws are a good result. Probably when you're in our situation they can be good for building confidence and momentum, but equally three points make a difference. So for us to have gone and got three points here today against the side who maybe people didn't expect us to get them against is a real bonus for us.”

Lady Luck aside, Lakeland recognises the need to continue the upward trajectory.

“Right now we're obviously in survival mode and we're showing a lot of positive signs because we're not losing games on a regular basis anymore,” he said. “But we've still got a long way to go and I don't want anybody getting carried away thinking that's us up and away now. We've got a points target in mind and we've got to keep on getting points.

“We’ve obviously got a week off now with no game on Tuesday but the next three games are potentially pivotal for us. But they're also pivotal for the teams that we're coming up against, so we need a good week to rest and recover, prepare and be ready for another tough game next week.”

Lakeland made it clear the win was a get well gift to coach and former joint boss Robbie Back, who was hospitalised earlier last week.

“That win today is for Robbie Back because he's been very poorly this week,” said Lakeland. “He's somebody who loves his club, commits a lot of time and effort and he's been unbelievably supportive of myself since I came in here and obviously he's always in around it on home match days and for him not to be here today it's… we just hope he gets better soon, but that wins for him.”

King’s Lynn Town: Jones, Ronan, McFadden, Coulson, Crowe, Hargreaves, Morrison, Walker, Devonport (Hughes 86), Stephens (Cybulski 75) , Margetts (Castro 75). Subs not used: Dixon-Hodge, Rogers.

Goals: Margetts 13, 41, Castro 90

South Shields: Boney, Hunter, Morse, Broadbent (Sloan 46), Heaney, Clarke (Savage 70), Smith, Abbey (Gomes 85), Woods, Blackett, Stephenson. Subs not used: Fletcher, Seymour.

Goal: Blackett 47

Att: 834