King's Lynn joint boss Setchell's delight at FA Vase win

Town joint boss Gary Setchell praised the Linnets' never-say-die attitude after battling into the last 16 of the FA Vase on Teeside today.

Robbie Harris poached the only goal of the game after Town had withstood a ferocious onslaught from the Northern League hosts.

Keeper Alex Street proved a stubborn last line of defence on numerous occasions prior to the interval but Lynn held out to go through to Monday's fifth round draw.

'People have questioned at times our resilience away from home and our ability to dig in and whether we have too many pretty footballers,' said Setchell. 'Well, for a long time in my football career I don't remember a performance from a team I was associated with who dug in or gave any more.

'Norton & Stockton are a great side who put us under lots and lots of pressure and made it very difficult for us, but everyone from one to 11 and the subs who went on put a shift in together. This is an unbelievable result and people who weren't here probably don't realise how good they were and what a massive result this is today.'

Town received a huge pre-match boost when 28-goal top scorer and captain Jack Defty (hamstring) was passed fit, along with Luke Thurlbourne (ankle). Danny White was preferred to Steve Spriggs on the right of midfield with Martin McNeil kept in reserve as Ross Watson partnered Danny Buhlemann.

Kieran Doherty's looping header clipped the top of James Provett's bar in the opening seconds from Town's very first attack.

Defty headed wide under pressure from Harris' deep cross but the big frontman had already been penalised for a push.

Jamie Clarke drilled at Street from long range after Jamie Alsop miscued to the Ancients' striker.

Daniel Earl raced clear of the Linnets' rearguard but his angled strike was deflected behind before the unmarked Craig Bishop sidefooted over just six yards out from the corner.

Alsop acrobatically headed Craig Gott's goalbound shopt off his line after Street had beaten away Earl's angled lash as Ancients continued to probe.

Harris then fired at Provett in a swift counter from the visitors. Street foiled Earl in a one-on-one duel with Ancients bossing proceedings at this early stage.

Doherty miscued with Provett to beat from Defty's knockdown before Earl overran the ball with Lynn again undone by the pacy home frontman.

Harris swivelled eight yards out to open the scoring on 30 minutes after scuffing White's first cutback. Street then had to go full length to deny Gott with Norton probing for an instant reply.

Defty's near post header flashed inches wide from Jamie Thurlbourne's corner. Street confidently pouched Gott's free kick before Harris teed up White who blazed over as the tie teetered on a knife edge.

Luke Thurlbourne's dipping half volley flew just over from brother Jamie's corner in the closing stages of the half.

Clarke headed wide under pressure after Town were caught a swift free kick. Earl tested Street on the restart but the Linnets' stopped grasped confidently at his near post.

David Alderson climbed highest but headed over with an increasingly desperate Ancients looking to pin Town back.

Town second half arrival Spriggs led a counter but rifled two yards wide from long range.

Defty poked Jamie Thurlbourne's free kick well over with Lynn looking for some late breathing space. Norton full back Theodore Furness clipped tamely into the side netting deep in stoppage time with Lynn's well-drilled backline now forcing the hosts to try their luck from long range.

Norton & Stockton: Provett, Furness (Brown 73), Bishop, Baker, Gaston, Alderson, Huggins, Gott, Clarke, Owens (N Mulligan 45), Earl (Richards 73). Subs (not used): D Mulligan, Lawson.

King's Lynn: Street, Bexfield, Alsop, L Thurlbourne, Watson, Buhlemann, White, Doherty (Spriggs 61), Defty, Harris (Bacon 67), J Thurlbourne. Subs (not used): McNeil, Moriera, Hails.

Goal: Harris (30)

Referee: M McGrath (East Yorks)

Att: 249