King's Lynn boss Gary Setchell praised his players' attitude after they confidently dispatched bottom side Desborough in the UCL Premier Division on Saturday.

With Long Buckby's game postponed, the win moved the Linnets four points clear at the top, as Holbeach United moved up to second following their 10-1 mauling of Northampton Spencer.

Setchell said he never feared that his team would take Desborough lightly: 'The attitude was never in question,' said the manager. 'We knew that we were expected to win, but it doesn't matter if we're playing against the team second in the league or the team at the bottom, my players will turn up with the right attitude.'

Lynn left first team regulars Danny Beaumont, Patrick Bexfield and Luke Thurlbourne on the bench, while goalkeeper Luke Owen – brother-in-law of Linnets striker Jack Defty – appeared in the squad for the first time as an unused substitute.

The Linnets took a seventh minute lead through Stephen Spriggs, before new signing Liam Harrold marked his second game for Lynn with his second goal for the club in the 15th minute.

The Linnets' first half dominance was rewarded with a third goal on 39 minutes, as Robbie Harris notched his 12th league goal of the season.

Spriggs added a fourth two minutes after half-time and Harrold completed the rout with the fifth just past the hour mark.

Setchell admitted he was delighted with the impact made by Harrold: 'I'm very pleased with him,' he said. 'With Jack Defty injured we brought him in to give us a bit more power up front. He gives us a good option and he's scored three in his first two games so he's started very well.'

The manager added that Defty is expected to be back from injury within a fortnight, while Ross Watson's return is also imminent.

Holbeach's demolition of Northampton Spencer served as a reminder that the Linnets cannot afford to take their foot off the pedal, but Setchell added: 'We never would do that anyway. We're trying to win the league and we believe we can do that.

'We've got Holbeach at home on Boxing Day and hopefully we'll get a big crowd for that one, but we're looking no further than the next game.

'With Long Buckby having their game called off we now have a chance to go seven points clear of them in our next game.'

Long Buckby now have three games in hand on Lynn, but they are in League Cup action this weekend and the league fixtures are threatening to pile up for the Northamptonshire side. Setchell added: 'We were in that position last season when we were behind St Neots, but there is a long way to go this season and points are going to be dropped.

'Hopefully this time we will be on the right side of it.'

• King's Lynn: Street, Fryatt (Bexfield), Yong, Wall, Buhlemann, Hughes, Spriggs (Beaumont), White (L Thurlbourne), Harrold, Harris, J Thurlbourne.

Sub not used: Owen