Gary Setchell admits the unforgiving nature of the Evo-Stik Premier Division has handed King's Lynn Town some harsh lessons this campaign.

Leaders FC United – set to finally win the title at the seventh time of asking – are proof that the Northern Step Three league is one of the hardest to get out of. And while the Linnets' hopes of their own promotion push have drastically faded in 2015, they too have been on the end of some painful blows that will not be forgotten.

The Linnets opening day victory on the road was not repeated until January 31, while the club's excellent home record has fallen apart since the turn of the year.

Once their fortress, Lynn are now eight matches without a win at The Walks – a stat which Setchell feels proves how tough his club's second term at this level has become.

The Linnets' chief said: 'Yeah (our records at home and on the road have turned round), and we have picked up three away wins from nowhere. That is football isn't it? This is a classic case of the Northern Premier League – if you think you've cracked it (you're wrong) – you've never cracked it. This league is brutal.

'I never thought we could go one win (since New Year's Day) here (at The Walks). I never thought that could happen to us here and it has.

'It just shows you the strength of the league. This is difficult. We've got 52 points, so we're safe, which I'm obviously happy about. I didn't expect us to be in this position though and I don't think anybody did.'

Lynn, 14th with three matches to go, will not surpass their debut Evo-Stik Prem total of 68 points. But if results go their way they could still improve on a maiden 11th-placed finish during a second season at Step Three following back-to-back promotions.

They head to play-off chasing Curzon Ashton this afternoon with plenty of positives to take from Monday's undeserved 1-0 home defeat to Barwell.

'We tried one or two things out against Barwell and obviously (winger) Jake Jones was a massive plus for us (at left back),' said Setchell, who is without suspended striker Sam Mulready for Lynn's penultimate away game.

'Jordan (Yong) said he felt a little bit tight so I made a decision. He said he was all right to play, maybe, so I thought 'I'll have a look at Jonesy there'. He played there at Walsall and to be fair it was probably one of his best games in a Lynn shirt.'