For months it has seemed that a greater power was desperate to inflict non-stop misery on Gary Setchell.
Top players leaving. Check. Injuries. Check. Poor refereeing decisions. Double check. Goalmouth scrambles not being converted. Check. Individual errors. Treble check. Fortune certainly has not been shining on Lynn or their manager. And yes, of course, some of their ills have been self-inflicted. But the Linnets' rapid slide down the Evo-Stik Premier Division table has not been all of their own doing.
It left Setchell's side going into Saturday's clash against title-challenging Ashton, second, knowing positive performances were no longer enough to halt a 2015 slump which has dragged the men in blue and gold to just five points above the relegation zone before kick-off.
Ninety minutes later Chris Baguley's 30-yard free-kick looked destined to haul the Linnets deeper into the mire – even though they had produced a best home display since the New Year's Day win over Stamford. Debutant Conor Marshall's excellent screening shift in front of the back four was not going to be rewarded. Neither was the battling endeavour of Michael Frew who saw an effort kept out by a combination of Greg Pearson and the post.
The footballing gods had chosen to consign a fifth home defeat on the bounce. Or that's how it appeared until Ross Watson's looped pump into the danger area caused panic after tiny Sam Mulready had excellently beaten goalie Paul Phillips to the ball.
The striker's flick header found Jacek Zielonka yet his instinctive effort was blocked. And in that moment, Lady luck decided to smile on Setchell at the most crucial moment.
The rebounded went to Lynn's Pole who, probably more by luck than judgement, rebounded the ball into the net to stop the rot and earn his troops the minimum of the point they deserved. He might not have known much about it but he was certainly aware of how important the intervention was as his team-mates, boss and supporters – who stuck with their team after seeing a considerably improved display – went wild. Goals change seasons, and Zielonka's could have saved the Linnets' from getting even messier.
Setchell, who could for the first time in a while afford an after-match smile, said: 'Ashton are second in the league because they turn up 46 games a season.
'They turn up, you know exactly what you're going to get from them, they don't make as many mistakes as what we have been, and they keep going and going and going. And we done that on Saturday. We had a little bit of luck for the goal, but I think our little bit of luck's been long overdue.'
It has. And if it hangs around, Lynn surely have enough qualities to start moving back up the table.
- Click here to read a match report, and see a gallery of Matthew Usher's pictures, from Saturday's game.
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