Paddy Davitt King's Lynn 5, Matlock 1: Carl Heggs got the birthday present he craved as Lynn romped to the biggest win of his tenure. The Linnets' player/boss has carried the weight of The Walks on his shoulders at times this season with long-term injury following suspension following long-term injury.

Paddy Davitt

King's Lynn 5, Matlock 1

Carl Heggs got the birthday present he craved as Lynn romped to the biggest win of his tenure.

The Linnets' player/boss has carried the weight of The Walks on his shoulders at times this season with long-term injury following suspension following long-term injury.

But Heggs and his boys' brigade are resilient. Matlock had the temerity to open the scoring - Ross Hannah twisting away from Andy Boyce to fire past Danny Gay.

Big mistake. Heggs won a penalty, converted by returning top scorer Anthony Robinson.

Owen Story embellished his growing reputation with a thunderbolt second.

Heggs' instinctive finish on the restart provided some breathing space before impressive new midfielder Curtis Shaw and Kwesi Appiah completed the rout.

Throw in a booking, a gash above his eyebrow and a late pitch invasion by a tutu-wearing smurf and it was just another day in the life of Lynn's young manager.

“I'm really pleased to win a football match,” said Heggs. “The way we've won is a bonus. I'd have taken 1-0 in the 90th minute but to score five is always nice.

“We've lost three in 13 now, scored more than other side away from home and moved up to third.

“I've lost five key players to injury and my assistant manager walked out, but I reckon some will still

moan at the job I'm doing here - a

job on a lot less budget than every other manager here in recent times, a lot, lot less.

“For the majority, the 99pc who were behind me from the start, this result is for them and I love being manager of this club.”

Lynn's comeback win also exorcised memories of Nantwich's 3-0 cruise last time out at home.

“We're learning from mistakes and I'm so proud of them,” said Heggs. “It's not a mistake then a win or a draw but rather we seem to be getting stronger and consistent.

“If we maybe hadn't lost in the fashion we did here against Nantwich then I don't think we'd have gone to Kendal and won or Frickley in the driving rain and awful conditions and - no disrespect - a terrible place to go, and get

a point.

“This is our league. If you are organised and you are strong and you can match that side of the game then I feel we have better players. We have young players but ones who can turn a game.

“We've been punched on the nose last time here against Nantwich, we should have taken more points at home against Worksop and Whitby earlier in the season, but the signs are there.”

Heggs spilt blood for the cause in another all-action cameo before departing to a rousing reception on the hour mark.

Lynn's player/boss admits he is now a reluctant number nine, having suffered long-term injuries to master poacher Gareth Sheldon and Mansfield loan signing Jason Bradley.

“I just went up for a header, tried to flick it and the defender caught me on the eye,” he said.

“I don't want to play myself, but needs must. Shelly might not have thrown himself around and taken the knocks but he'd score goals on a regular basis.

“Jason was the man but he got injured. We just haven't got the money to splash around and the bit I do have I used to bring in the likes of Palms (Carl Palmer) and Ben (Muirhead).

“Curtis is another who has come in. No-one else wants to take him but I'm prepared to give these lads a chance when other clubs have looked at

him and maybe thought he's not for me or they've brought him in and he's not settled.

“He turned around to me in the dressing room after the game and said what a great team spirit and atmosphere there is. Right now, this is a really good club to be at.”

t King's Lynn: Gay, Magunda, Spencer, Palmer (Webb 74), Boyce, Rowe-Turner, Story, Shaw, Heggs (Appiah 60), Robinson (Smith 85), Muirhead. Subs (not used): Aisien, Beswick, McAnally.

Booking: Heggs.

Goals: Robinson (11), Story (31), Heggs (48), Shaw (77), Appiah (90)

t Matlock: Sollitt, Brough, Yates, King, Harran, Lukic, Wood, Warne (Davies 78), Benger (Cartwright 66), Hannah (Cropper 57), Stury. Subs (not used): Algar, Buxton.

Bookings: Sollitt, Harran.

Goal: Hannah (6). Referee: N Murphy (Notts). Attendance: 897.