Paddy Davitt King's Lynn 3, Yarmouth 1: Lynn joint boss Kevin Boon revealed it needed some tough talking to spark Town into action last night against a spirited Yarmouth at The Walks.

Paddy Davitt

King's Lynn 3, Yarmouth 1

Lynn joint boss Kevin Boon revealed it needed some tough talking to spark Town into action last night against a spirited Yarmouth at The Walks.

Bloaters' lively frontman Jake Reid was a constant menace for the visitors forcing Town keeper Alex Street into some smart stops during a competitive friendly.

Reid cancelled out Lynn centre-back Martin McNeil's opener before Scott Cubberley latched onto Jack Defty's exquisite throughball in the closing stages of the first half.

Linnets' captain Defty's towering late header sealed a fourth consecutive pre-season win - but Boon paid tribute to the Ridgeons Premier new boys.

“For Yarmouth playing in front of a 1,000 odd people that was a big game and I thought they took it to us,” he said.

“From our point of view we saw some positives but also some negatives - particularly in the first half we were disappointed in a few areas defensively but we'll work on those.

“The lads know, they don't need it spelling out and we will put it right for the start of the season. Some of the fringe players have come in and done well again which is a plus and we've gone four games unbeaten now, but as we keeping saying - pre-season means nothing results-wise.”

Boon admitted Reid had caused the Linnets' backline plenty of problems.

“I knew Jake Reid through Paul Tong when I was at Diss and he is a very, very good player in Norfolk,” he said. “I believe he can only get better in the next 18 months. I am a big fan.

“Having said that we were very pleased with our second half because a few hard words were said at the break by myself and Gary (Setchell). They went out and put it right and it was a real good workout - considering we had five first teamers missing.

“The third goal was excellent. It was a great ball from Ross Kelly who has really been out of football for a year with a broken foot so he is just getting back and enjoying himself, and his range of passing is one of the best in the club.”

Lynn's teenage stopper Alex Street underlined his growing reputation with a composed display before being withdrawn for triallist Igor Tyakovlev.

“Alex showed tonight what we have been saying about him, we have a young lad who has matured really quickly as a goalkeeper,” said Boon. “One save in particular was very impressive, but he just got up and threw the ball out, which is the sign of a good keeper and one who has a big future.

“Igor has been training with us for the last month and with Matthew Hails on holiday we wanted to bring him in and have a look. He will feature with the reserves during pre-season and you never know - we need three keepers in the club. He has moved to King's Lynn and he hasn't missed a training session.”

t King's Lynn Town: Street (Tyakovlev 86), C Defty (Newton 45), Buhlemann (Spittlehouse 80), Thurlbourne, McNeil (Plumb 45), Stone (Fryatt 88), Kelly (Barnes 88), Doherty (Livotti 69), J Defty (Biles 88), Cubberley (Harris 45), Smith. Subs (all used). Goals: McNeil (18), Cubberley (40), J Defty (71)

t Yarmouth: Hilton (Chessup 79), King, Bell (Savage 45), Ferguson (Durrant 45), Roberts, Palmer (Thompson 72), Fell (Hayton 45), Smith, Roach, Reid, Vida (Kemp 84). Subs (all used). Goal: Reid (21)

t Referee: J Turner (Norfolk)

t Attendance: 1,180