Paddy Davitt Norfolk non-league neighbours King's Lynn and Dereham were left counting the injury cost of the Linnets' 2-1 FA Vase extra-time weekend win at Aldiss Park.

Paddy Davitt

Norfolk non-league neighbours King's Lynn and Dereham were left counting the injury cost of the Linnets' 2-1 FA Vase extra-time weekend win at Aldiss Park.

Former Magpies striker Robbie Harris guided Lynn through to a second qualifying round tie against Yarmouth at The Walks later this month, but both clubs are poised to miss key men for the return to league action this weekend.

Dereham defenders Matthew Cross and Jay Eastoe-Smith were stretchered off with knee injuries in a second half that required 14 minutes of time added on following the two lengthy stoppages.

Cross underwent precautionary hospital tests after the game and is poised for a further MRI scan to assess the extent of his injury, but Eastoe-Smith will be assessed by the club's medical staff at training.

Lynn joint boss Kevin Boon also revealed yesterday that central defensive duo Brady Stone (foot) and Martin McNeil (ankle) are major doubts for Daventry's UCL visit on Saturday.

“Brady asked to come off at half-time, which shows you how bad it was because he is a warhorse,” said Boon.

“He was just running and felt something in his foot. He couldn't put any weight on it and it just got worse and worse. We don't know if it's a broken bone or not - it was too early to tell. Macca went up for a header and landed very awkwardly. He came down and turned his right ankle and it has ballooned up to twice the size, so we'll have to look at that when it settles down. Both will be in for training on Wednesday, but I think they are struggling for the weekend.

“Danny Buhlemann took a knock as well and Jamie Alsop is unavailable through work for Saturday so it's a bit of a nightmare, but Plumby (Kyle Plumb) will come back in. He has not let anyone down and the only reason we left him out of the squad at Dereham was because we wanted to go with a keeper on the bench and Bully can cover a number of positions.”

Boon is looking forward to home comforts after a trio of wins on the road helped push Lynn top of the UCL and into the next round of the FA Vase.

“I think there'll be a decent gate and people are now starting to see things take off and get behind what we are trying to achieve and believe in us,” he said.

“The fans lifted us again at Dereham. It felt like the last 20 minutes at Boston that night when we scored late on because the lads were out on their feet. If we had taken our chances we would have won the game a bit easier but we gave away a sloppy goal.“It was a big game but I feel this result has really brought King's Lynn Town to life.”