AFC Telford 1, King's Lynn 1Lynn boss Keith Webb has set a Blue Square North survival target after title-chasing AFC Telford denied his men a stirring win.

AFC Telford 1, King's Lynn 1

Lynn boss Keith Webb has set a Blue Square North survival target after title-chasing AFC Telford denied his men a stirring win.

Danny Carey-Bertram's stoppage time equaliser cancelled out Dominic Dwyer's first senior goal for the new look Linnets, who lost a trio of senior players ahead of a daunting trip totally over-shadowed by the financial problems following major backer, Michael Chinn's exit.

Lynn's early season optimism on the back of Southern League promotion has given way to safeguarding their hard won Conference status. The Linnets remain nine points above the relegation zone.

“I think we need three wins not to get dragged into anything at the wrong end of the table,” he said. “We didn't go to Telford to lose or draw but if you'd offered me a point before the game, I'd have snatched your hand off.

“It was a boost for us in light of what had gone on in the last few days. I wasn't happy with the performance in our previous game but you can understand the strain they have had to play under recently. They responded magnificently and I can't speak highly enough of them. The people of Lynn should really say, 'thank goodness they have individuals of that ilk at their club.' We just have to make sure we finish in this league at the end of the season. That is the be all and end all.”

Webb handed Norwich loan recruit Kris Renton a debut before he made way for fellow teenager Dwyer to open his goal account.

“Dominic gave us a little bit more thrust and an injection of pace,” said Webb. “Jack (Defty) put a great ball through but he has held off their fella and slotted it nicely past the keeper. I'm pleased with his contribution since stepping up. And Kris worked hard, he did well. Really it was a case of meeting everyone for the first time when he turned up to catch the bus, but I think the other players saw he has touches of quality. He just needs to get match sharp now and he will get that chance with us.”

Webb admitted the twin departures of Michael Frew and Joe Francis prompted an enforced tactical switch.

“I looked at the players I had left and tried to get a system to suit us,” he said. “I think it caught Telford on the hop a little bit. I don't remember them causing us too many problems in general play. The surroundings probably helped us. I enjoyed it and so did the boys to play a proper football match with a big crowd.”

Renton partnered Defty up front in the absence of new Cambridge City recruit Frew.

Andrew Fisk replaced Francis and the former Norwich academy product linked well with Renton just past the half-hour mark, but fired wide of Ryan Young's far post.

Carl Rodgers' tested Scott Howie before the break, while Liam Blakeman and Mark Danks tried their luck from distance after.

Dwyer rifled past Young to break the deadlock after a rapier counter, but Carey-Bertram pounced deep into stoppage time to scramble home Danks' knock down.

AFC Telford: Young, Vaughan, Meredith, Cowan, Whitehead, Blakeman, Adams (Edwards 59), Rodgers, Carey-Bertram, Danks, Trainer (Moore 59). Subs (not used): Turner, Nwadike, Khela. Goal: Carey-Bertram (90).

King's Lynn: Howie, Graham, Smith, Peters, Thomas, Camm, Mitchell, Johnson, J Defty, Renton (Dwyer 76), Fisk. Subs (not used): Kelly, C Defty, Crane, Murray. Bookings: Johnson, Graham. Goal: Dwyer (82).

Referee: AJ Horton (West Midlands)

Attendance: 1,990