King’s Lynn Town 3 Scarborough Athletic 4

King’s Lynn Town surrendered a three-goal lead and conceded twice in injury time as they dropped three precious points in a stunning turnaround at The Walks.

The Linnets had raced into a 3-0 lead in the opening 21 minutes through Bartosz Cybulski, Cameron Hargreaves and Jonny Margetts.

It remained that way until the break, and even when Scarborough pulled one back soon after the restart, Lynn looked comfortable.

But a second Scarborough goal with 12 minutes remaining forced Lynn into a rearguard action where bodies were put on the line as they sought to extend their unbeaten run to a dozen games and avoid the unwanted tab of April fools.

However, their efforts came to nothing and in time added on, the visitors hit the back of the net twice for an improbable win.

“What a shambles we were second half,” said Lynn boss Adam Lakeland. “Nobody sees that coming. It's just so frustrating. I thought first half, we were superb. We wanted to start fast, we wanted to try and get our noses in front and I thought we were outstanding that first half. We were organised, looked a threat every time we got on the ball, middle third caused them all sorts of problems with the strikers, scored three goals.

“And then to come out and put in that second-half performance is, I don't want to use the word unforgivable, but as near to that as you can get.

“I've stood here many times and defended the players and they've been absolutely outstanding this year, they really, really have. We've put together an unbelievable run. I spoke a lot about confidence, mentality. I'm not having what I saw there second half. I will not tolerate that.

“I've absolutely worked my you know whats off in the last three months. I remember in December, standing in front of you many times when we were poor and taking all the pelters myself, which is my job to do. But when the players come out and put in a performance like that second half, then I've got a duty to tell them that that's on them, and it is on them.”

Lakeland made three changes to the team which drew at Scunthorpe on Friday: Ross Barrows came in for Kian Ronan, who was on the bench, Ben Stephens replaced assistant manager Sam Walker and up front, Cybulski started, with Owen Devonport among the subs.

Lynn made a perfect star, Cybulski tapping home from close range after good work on the right of the area by Margetts.

Four minutes later it was 2-0. Stephens’ free kick hit the wall and Hargreaves thumping the rebound into the bottom left corner from 20 yards

Lynn keeper Paul Jones got down to his left to stop Alex Wiles’ effort from the edge of the area as the visitors looked to respond.

Margetts made it 3-0 from the spot on 21 minutes, picking himself up after being fouled by Kieran Weledji as he made a B-line for goal.

It had been cruise control for Lynn in the opening half, the visitors rarely troubling Jones, although they probably had the lion’s share of possession.

The visitors gave themselves a lifeline two minutes after the break, Kole Hall turning inside the area and firing  low into the bottom left corner.

The visitors began to cause a few nervous moments either side of the white line – Hall’s backheel flick from Harry Green’s cross went just wide.

Lynn had managed the game well,  but when Lewis Maloney fired into the right corner, with the aid of a deflection, it became a case of hanging on for the final 10 minutes or so.

It proved a task that was beyond them as Hall curled in a right footer in time added on to snatch a draw and then, with 10 seconds left, Dominic Dom Tear poked the ball past Jones for an improbable winner.

King’s Lynn Town: Jones, Barrows, McFadden, Taylor, Coulson (C), Crowe, Hargreaves, Morrison, Stephens (Hughes 78), Cybulski (Devonport 68), Margetts (Ronan 84). Subs not used: Dixon-Hodge, Rogers.

Goals: Cybulski 4, Hargreaves 8, Margetts 21pen

Scarborough: Whitley, Weledji, Maloney, Thornton, Purver, Colville, Barnes, Alex Wiles (Tear 76), Wilson (Green 60), Hall, Dyson (Gooda 60). Subs not used: Cracknell, Johnson.

Goals: Hall 48, 90 Maloney 78, Tear 90

Att: 1,128