Frontman Gregg Smith in line to make his debut as King’s Lynn Town look to forget FA Cup misery
A grounded Ross Watson and Jordan Yong show the pain that Gary Setchell is hoping new recruit Gregg Smith, inset, can ease. Picture: MATTHEW USHER - Credit: Matthew Usher
New recruit Gregg Smith will provide King's Lynn Town with the perfect pick-me-up following their FA Cup heartbreak, according to his new manager.
The Linnets were left devastated on Saturday when they made a string of schoolboy errors to lose 4-3 at home to AFC Fylde and blow their chance of making the first round proper. But they have a great opportunity to forget their weekend woes this evening when they welcome Evo-Stik Premier Division basement boys Belper Town to The Walks. And boss Gary Setchell admits the striker's arrival from Grantham Town will further help raise the spirits within a gutted Town dressing room. 'I'm happy. Big Gregg will give everyone a lift,' said the Linnets' chief.
'We're running on a small squad and it's an extra body we've got in. We're short in the forward areas. Sam (Mulready) is stop-start, stop-start, stop-start with his hamstring and I don't think it was 100pc right on Saturday. Michael (Frew) has worked his socks off for 16, 17, 18 games.
'Big Gregg will just give us another option, especially when we're away from home and we're under the cosh and need to relieve the pressure. He scored 21 goals in the league last season and he's a proven goalscorer at this level.
'Every time he's played against one of my teams he's been a handful and I think he'll be a good signing. It'll take time for him to settle in because this is a big club. No disrespect to Grantham, Spalding, Stamford – this is a different platform to play your football in my opinion.
'Hopefully he'll settle in and score 21 league goals for us this season. He'll go straight into the squad for the Belper game and we'll go again.'
Smith, 24, made 18 appearances for the Gingerbreads this term scoring three goals. But it was his impressive strike rate and powerful displays last campaign that caught the eye of many clubs in the Northern League's top-flight.
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The big frontman's arrival was rubber-stamped before Lynn's seven-goal thriller against Fylde but he was cup-tied and had to make do with a watching brief. Man mountain and new team-mate Henry Eze was forced to play for the reserves on Saturday but returns after missing the big tie for the same reason.
Fifth-placed Lynn, who will be without unavailable midfielder and captain David Bell, are expected to see off Belper as they arrive looking for their maiden away league victory following promotion. But they did collect three points in Norfolk when the sides last met during the Division One South campaign of 2012/13.
The Nailers have struggled so far with manager Peter Duffield resigning after a 5-1 defeat against Buxton in September. Striker Jon Froggatt took over and has since led his side to their first two league victories including Saturday's 2-0 triumph over high-flying Curzon Ashton.
