Paddy Davitt Desborough 0, King's Lynn 2: Lynn joint boss Kevin Boon believes the Linnets are learning how to handle the weight of expectation after another polished UCL away win.

Paddy Davitt

Desborough 0, King's Lynn 2

Lynn joint boss Kevin Boon believes the Linnets are learning how to handle the weight of expectation after another polished UCL away win.

Free kick master Jamie Thurlbourne and skipper Jack Defty sealed victory inside the opening 30 minutes of a one-sided contest. Defty's late penalty miss after the impressive Pat Bexfield had been upended summed up a frustrating afternoon for the captain who was unable to add to his personal goal tally.

Boon and Gary Setchell's side have now stretched their winning league run to four matches following a shock opening day defeat at Long Buckby.

“They are all growing in confidence and you can see improvements everywhere across the pitch,” said Boon. “When Setch is going through his team talk in the changing room you sense the lads are up for it because there is a pressure on us, make no mistake. That expectation comes from the fans and the club and it will be everywhere we go this season.

“I'll be honest, myself and Setch also have to show we can handle those nerves as well that go with this level of expectation because after what has happened to the club, this season has the most expectation of any in our history. People want us to win games, they expect us to win games, and we have put another one to bed so we can move on from here - but we could have scored a few more.”

Boon predicts one of Lynn's UCL rivals could suffer in coming weeks after spurning a stack of chances against Desborough.

“We've missed chances but for the first 35 minutes I thought we were absolutely exceptional,” he said. “I won't moan this week. Jack missed a penalty and a hatful but we've got the three points and we've played well. When we all click then a team is going to be on the receiving end but it doesn't matter if you score ten or two the main thing is we kept a clean sheet and got the win which is positive.

“They are quite a physical side but because we moved the ball around they couldn't get near us. We have to come to places like this and get results and that is something we have drummed into the players. We did well at Boston and winning here now is even more evidence of that because the biggest kick in the teeth was what happened to us on the opening day. Since then the players have taken it on board.”

Boon paid tribute to young centre back Kyle Plumb who deputised for Martin McNeil - Town's experienced defender again absent with a persistent neck injury.

“Macca has got this problem in his neck and it is a worry but Plumby has come in and showed he can cope with senior football,” said Boon. “Brady Stone alongside him showed a lot of character as well because we didn't know if he would be fit enough to come back out for the second half after he was a little concussed. Without Martin and Danny Buhlemann, who was away for the weekend, we were a bit short but Brady was magnificent.”

Desborough: Smith, Donativo (James 66), Tolton, Jackson, Mitchell, Keall (Rogers 69), Rogers, Grant, Blakie (Coleman 45), Kitching, Rowbotham Subs (not used): Caine, Harman.

Booking: Tolton

King's Lynn: Street, Bexfield, Alsop, Stone, Plumb, L Thurlbourne (Smith 80), Kelly (Doherty 76), White, Defty, Cubberley (Harris 74), J Thurlbourne. Subs (all used).

Goals: J Thurlbourne (16), J Defty (23)

Referee: M Connolly (Leics)

Attendance: 160