Goalkeeper Danny Gay's experience will be vital in helping King's Lynn Town's push for promotion, according to Gary Setchell.

The experienced shot-stopper has replaced highly-rated youngster Alex Street as the Linnets' number one this term after returning to his hometown club last September.

The 30-year-old made a crucial save with the scores deadlocked during Lynn's weekend win over Market Drayton Town and his manager believes it's moments like those that could make the difference as the race to move up to Step Three of the non-league ladder hots up.

Setchell said: 'The key moment was when Danny Gay made the one-on-one save at 0-0. He didn't have a lot to do and we could have got punished. But DG kept his cool, stood big and tipped it round the post which was fortunate. And that gave us a lift. It doesn't always have to be a great goal to give you a lift. It can be a save, a big tackle, or a goal-line clearance. His save seemed to be the spark which lit the fuse really.'

Gay, who has played for a host of semi-professional sides after making 11 appearances in the Football League for Southend, has made 22 Evo-Stik Division One South starts since his arrival.

He was cup-tied for Lynn's fine FA Trophy run though, and Setchell admits the outstanding form of 21-year-old Street, commonly known as Pedro, in that competition put big pressure on the PE teacher's shoulders to keep up his equally impressive displays.

'He came under a little bit of pressure early. You bring in a 'keeper (Gay) in and the next week the other goalkeeper (Street) makes two penalty saves in the same game, so he came under a little bit of pressure from Pedro,' said the Lynn boss.

'Not pressure, as in I was going to put Pedro back in, because Danny was playing well too. But pressure as in he had to keep missing monumental games. But now he's had a full run and is playing every week he brings that little bit of – not calmness as that's disrespectful to Pedro – but that little bit of experience and know how. At this stage of the season, Danny's probably won four or five leagues in his career and those key moments can be very positive for us. We have two first-class goalkeepers'.

Gay is likely to keep his place tomorrow night when second-placed Lynn visit last season's runners-up Carlton Town.