King’s Lynn Town 1-0 Gateshead: The Heed suffer their fourth straight defeat to league leaders

Adam Marriott’s 73rd-minute strike earned league leaders King’s Lynn Town all three points – piling the misery on a struggling Gateshead side.

The victory saw the Linnets return to the top of the league and left the visitors to rue their missed opportunities.

JJ O’Donnell’s early strike did not trouble the goalkeeper but sparked the visitors into life and moments later Dom Tear became the first to test Alex Street in the Linnets’ goal.

The eventual match-winner Marriott was reduced to trying his luck from 30-yards in the first half but was unable to test Bradley James.

It was proving to be a game of half-chances until Joshua Kayode found himself one-on-one with Street in the early stages of the second half but the Town goalkeeper denied Heed from taking the lead.

Pressure mounted on the visiting side as Ian Culverhouse’s men pushed for a vital three points in their promotion push.

And it was the league’s top scorer who proved the difference as Marriott extended his tally to 22 for the season.

Sam Kelly’s through ball saw Marriott evade Heed’s defence before slotting home the goal which would see Town return to the top of the league.

A late push for an equaliser saw Gateshead convert directly from a corner but the celebrations were muted after a foul was awarded on Street.