Paddy Davitt King's Lynn skipper Greg Crane insisted yesterday Keith Webb's squad will punch their weight in Blue Square North this season. The unbeaten Southern Premier champions' quest for a maiden league win switches to Alfreton this weekend.

Paddy Davitt

King's Lynn skipper Greg Crane insisted yesterday Keith Webb's squad will punch their weight in Blue Square North this season.

The unbeaten Southern Premier champions' quest for a maiden league win switches to Alfreton this weekend. Lynn have been pegged back in each of their first three early season tests - but Crane has seen enough to know they belong in Conference circles.

“We've got a good bunch of lads here and we certainly feel within the group we are more than capable and good enough at this level,” said the former Norwich City academy prospect. “Of course it's a little bit frustrating to reach half time 1-0 up in all three matches and then let it slip. We just need to finish teams off and make the most of our chances. We're creating plenty but letting teams back in.

“If you don't do that you'll get punished. We pretty much dominated the Redditch match but just one little lapse of concentration hurt us. We didn't close the guy down from 25, 30 yards and, bang, it's in the top corner. The higher you go, the more clinical they are. Teams need less chances but to be fair we knew that from last season. We played some good football at Cambridge United but in the two penalty boxes they were so sharp.”

Danny Bloomfield's stoppage time strike salvaged a 2-2 draw against Droylsden last time out to maintain Lynn's unbeaten run after gifting the Mancunians a late lead.

“Danny did what he does best - ratting in the box and he deserved all the credit,” said Crane. “Even so, we still came off the park disappointed but we could say that about all three games. I felt Droylsden played some good stuff and kept it well in their defensive third and the middle of the park without really looking like opening us up. It's was just a couple of little individual errors we know you can't get away with.

“Getting that first win is important and that's what we will be aiming for at Alfreton. Even if we'd won one and lost two we'd be no different points-wise but we know we need to get up and running and hopefully that can come Saturday.”

Crane retained the captain's armband after lifting the club's first ever Southern Premier shield last season. The centre back admits he is more than happy to lean on experienced summer defensive arrivals Simon Weaver and Mark Peters.

“I enjoy it. I was given it last season and I've tried to take it on again,” said the 23-year-old. “To play alongside someone like Rhino obviously helps. It's more a case of him bossing me - with his experience he's great in games. He's talking to me all the time and telling me where he wants me on the pitch. Him and Weavs have fitted in ever so well and with more games I know we can only get better. If we do our jobs, keep it tight and pick up clean sheets, then we have lads who can hurt the opposition.

“Rhino got cut in the first game and Simon has been in the wars as well recently. We've told him he needs to start looking after himself but those are the sort of characters who will put their bodies on the line and be prepared to get hurt for the team. You need that.”