Marine suffered a disappointing 3-1 defeat on the road at King’s Lynn as they lacked a cutting edge in the final third, writes Tom Murphy at The Walks Stadium.
Despite an equaliser from Joe Mattock early in the second half, Neil Young’s side remain in the bottom four on 21 points, three points from safety.
The forwards struggled to get on the ball throughout the game with the likes of Enock Lusiama and Kallan Murphy being limited to few chances.
The Mariners failed to get an early foothold in the game and went behind after 10 minutes thanks to Tommy Hughes.
Josh Hmami was too quick for James Butler who was breezed past by the winger before finding Hughes in the box who slotted home the opener from close range.
There was little response from Marine after the hosts took the lead and Hughes almost set up a second for his team with 20 minutes played.
The goalscorer worked his way into the box brilliantly and found Finlay Barnes who was unable to steer his effort goalwards.
After a slow and disappointing first half from Marine, Neil Young’s side instantly came out of the blocks quickly.
Half time substitute Chris Doyle did well to draw a foul on the half way line. Murphy then plucked the ball out of the sky beautifully from a Leigh Whelan cross and Mattock was quickest to react to smash home a quick equaliser in the second half.
Kings Lynn responded quickly and hit Marine with a sucker punch minutes later.
Substitute Ross Crane burst down the left hand side, cut in and placed his strike superbly past Matty Corran who had no chance in the Marine net as the hosts went in front again.
Marine struggled to respond or create major chances that would put Patrick Boyes under any trouble.
King’s Lynn then wrapped up the three points when Hmami punished Marine on a clinical counter attack in the dying stages.
Young’s side now look ahead to next Saturday’s game against Buxton at home.
