KEARNEY TO THE RESCUE

Martin Kearney saved a penalty five minutes from time as Carlton Town earned a point at Kings Lynn.

THANKS TO CHRIS BAILEY & KING’S LYNN FOR THIS REPORT

In a tight encounter Lynn had a glorious chance to snatch all three points but Kearney saved Jason Turner’s spot-kick by diving to his right to his right after Jordan Yong was felled in the box following a mazy run.

Carlton arrived at The Walks with an 100 per cent record on their travels and Lynn had more than enough chances to end that statistic.

After a slow start, Gary Setchell's side spurned a number of opportunities to break the deadlock with Turner the worst culprit in front of goal.

In the first minute, a flick header from Joe Naylor almost gave Carlton Town the lead. Jamie Forshaw then just failed to connect with a Thurlbourne centre and five minutes later Spriggs fired high and wide after finding space just inside the box.

Carlton continued to have the better of the exchanges with Matthew Varley heading just wide of the target and Wes Henry seeing his effort saved by the legs of Alex Street.

Ross Watson came close from long-range before a defence-splitting pass from Jordan Yong picked out Forshaw, who blazed over when he should have done better.

Watson continued to threaten from long-range and Turner saw a shot saved by the legs of Martin Kearney as the Linnets ended the first half well on top.

A minute after the restart, a goalmouth scramble from a corner led to Nick Hall missing a sitter from eight yards out for the visitors.

Lynn responded swiftly with Turner forcing Kearney into a save with his legs before the Carlton goalkeeper was called upon to keep out a Thurlbourne free-kick and Forshaw's follow-up.

Spriggs then provided a golden opportunity for Turner to open the scoring with a peach of a cross but the frontman fluffed his lines in front of goal.

The Walks outfit were given a lucky let off in the 70th minute when a Carlton cross deflected off Phil Gulliver's knee and onto the post before Ryan Fryatt made an important block as the ball ran loose.

Turner's penalty miss was almost punished in the dying seconds when Carlton substitute Ruben Wiggins-Thomas' header flashed inches wide of Alex Street's left-hand post

Carlton Town: Kearney, Asher, Gordon, Darkin (MacVicar 25), Varley, Hall, Naylor, Thornton, Kimberley, Henry (Wiggins-Thomas 62), Whitehurst (Smithson 78). Unused substitute: Clarke.

Carlton Town Supporters Club MOTM - Martin Kearney.

Att: 480