King's Lynn Town 3 Warrington Town 1
Feed the goat and he will score – which is why Adam Lakeland has Gold Omotayo on a bread and butter diet.
It consists of crosses from either flank for the big striker to nod home, which he did to some effect as the Linnets got their new season off to a flying start.
Omotayo was a huge hit at The Walks two seasons ago when he cracked the 20-goal marker, before trying his luck in the National League; it didn’t quite work as planned, and he returned to Lynn, a move which now looks seamless.
A missed penalty - more poorly-executed Panenka than forceful - blotted his copybook a little, but Lakeland knows the simple way of getting the best out of the 30-year-old.
“I thought he was great and his work rate today for the team was outstanding,” said the Linnets boss. “He really gave us a focal point, set off a lot of triggers for us, for going and pressing the ball, scored a good first goal – really annoyed with his penalty because I felt there was a little bit of a lull then for 10 minutes after he missed that.
“And then, shortly after that, probably because it was still on his mind, Tommy Hughes played a great ball through to him and they are bread and butter for him.
"But he's probably still thinking about the penalty and he missed that one as well. But then he scored his second goal and our third goal – and that's bread and butter for him.
“The lads on the sides know that when they're in those types of positions they've just got to hang it up to the back post for him and he's going to be there and he's as good and better than probably everybody in the league at pulling off at the back post for crosses in wide areas.
“He’ll be frustrated that he's not got a hat-trick, but the main thing is that we got three points.”
Omotayo set the ball rolling early on when he nodded home a Josh Hmami corner from the left, before seeing his spot kick saved on 26 minutes and then getting the ball caught under his feet after Hughes set him free.
Hughes slammed home a second soon after the break before Omotayo headed home Freddie Sass's cross from the left.
The second half ion particular was very much a story of Hmami v Warrington keeper Dan Atherton – the Linnets man lost out this time, but his performance suggests Lakeland has pulled a rabbit out of the hat with his signing. Ditto 19-year-old Cody Johnson, who has been a Lynn player for less than a week but took on the defensive midfield role with a confidence and maturity that belied his years.
Warrington pulled a goal back after keeper Paul Jones was given the hot potato of a poor headed back pass from Greg Taylor, but this Lynn side look to be made of sterner stuff and quickly nipped hopes of a comeback in the bud as they passed the first test under a genuine Adam Lakeland side.
“It’s probably as good a start as we could have had really,” said the Lynn boss. “I think the main thing today was just three points. It's so important that we got off to a good start, particularly here at home because as I've said numerous times in the past, we didn't play well enough here at home in the past. But today we've played well and got three very important points to get the season off to a good start.
“I think going into any season you just want to get your first win on the board as quickly as you possibly can and I thought we thoroughly deserved it, I felt we were excellent all game.
“The only disappointment was their goal - and that we probably have not scored more goals. Bar the woodwork and some outstanding goalkeeping by their keeper the scoreline would have been even greater and a I think that reflected the game. I felt we were the better team pretty much all game really.”
King’s Lynn: Jones, Ronan, McFadden, Taylor, Sass, Hmami, Hughes (Cybulski 86), Johnson, Crane (Coulson 90), Crowe (McCammon 71), Omotayo. Subs not used: Whiteley, 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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