King's Lynn Town 3 Warrington Town 1
King’s Lynn Town opened their National League North campaign in perfect style with a convincing home win.
Two goals from returning hero Gold Omotayo and one from Tommy Hughes sealed the points, only a late effort by Matthew McDonald spoiling the home clear sheet.
It could have been more emphatic, but for some brilliance from visiting keeper Dan Atherton who came out on top in a battle with Linnets midfielder Josh Hmami, who did everything but score.
Lakeland gave a start to Cody Johnson, signed on Tuesday on loan from Stockport, with Josh McCammon on the bench. Greg Taylor led the side out, with Josh Coulson among the subs.
There was an early test for Paul Jones, who kept out Joe Rodwell’s-Grant’s shot from the right side of the area.
Dylan Crowe almost teed up Omotayo, with Ross Crane’s shot spinning up and on to the top of the net and from Hmami’s resulting corner Omotayo nodded home from close range.
Hami almost doubled the lead on 15 minutes after good work by Hughes won back possession and Hmami jinked his way into a shooting position but shot wide of the right post.
Omotayo should have had a second on 26 minutes but fluffed his lines from the penalty spot after Crane been brought down by Oliver Southern.
Two minutes later he got the ball caught up in his feet after a lovely through ball from Hughes left him one on one with keeper Atherton.
Lynn were good value for their lead, but knew they position could have been a lot better
There were a few worries at the other end – Kyle McFadden was a one-man blocking machine when the visitors enjoyed a good spell with half-time in sight. Rodwell-Grant hooked one over Jones’s bar but Lynn went in with their lead intact.
Hmami was inches away from a spectacular goal two minutes after the restart, curling an effort towards the top right hand corner which Atherton somehow tipped around the post.
But moments later Lynn got the goal they had threatened for so long; Hmami combined well with Crowe whose low cross into the area towards Omotayo fell for Hughes to slam home from eight yards.
Lynn were rampant: Hmami was inches wide from just outside the area, stung Atherton’s fingers again and then had a goal-bound effort blocked.
The breakthrough came on 59 minutes; brilliant work by Crane forced panic in the Warrington defence and when Freddie Sass sent in a teasing cross, Omotayo was there to head home his second of the game.
Hmami hit the upright with a free-kick – he was most definitely the one player who truly deserved a goal.
Warrington pulled a goal back in somewhat bizarre circumstances – Taylor’s header back to his keeper was too firm, and Jones was forced to head away – but only to McDonald who slipped the ball into the net.
The goal gave the visitors hope and for Lynn a test of their nerve – which held until the final whistle.
King’s Lynn: Jones, Ronan, McFadden, Taylor, Sass, Hmami (Whiteley 90), Hughes (Cybulski 86), Johnson, Crane (Coulson 90), Crowe (McCammon 71), Omotayo. Subs not used: Boyes
Goals: Omotayo 9, 59, Hughes 49
Warrington Town: Atherton, Southern, Gumbs, Clarke, Southern (Bennett 62), Harris, Dixon, Woods, McDonald, Miles (O’Neill 76), Rodwell-Grant (Sithole 62). Subs not used: Gill, Smalley.
Goal: McDonald 73
Att: 1,002
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