King’s Lynn Town 0 Worksop 0

(Lynn win penalty shoot-out 4-3) 

Manager Adam Lakeland was a happy man after King’s Lynn Town came through an almighty battle to earn a place in the fourth qualifying round of the FA Cup.

There was nothing to separate the teams after 120 minutes of football so it went down to a penalty shootout – and Josh Coulson held his nerve to fire home the winning kick after keeper Paul Jones had saved the opening effort from Worksop.

Tommy Hughes, Theo Williams and Sam Walker also scored, although Cody Johnson’s effort was saved.

“I think if you've got a group of players that you trust, then the nerves are a little bit easier to manage,” said Lakeland. “I'm just so proud of the club tonight to be fair, because it's been absolutely pouring it down and Ben’s been working around the clock to get the pitch in the best state that he could to make sure that the game went ahead and then I think the way that the players performed, because it didn't really feel like much went our way at all.

“And obviously then you've got to play so long against a really good team with 10 men, you've got to show resilience, great concentration and just the willingness to just find a way.

“And I think we deserved it because we should have gone through on Saturday - they scored right the death, but we missed some gilt-edged chances and we should have probably won by three or four on Saturday. But we've found a way and we've got through - done it the hard way, but we're through.”

It was a victory Lynn deserved having played all of extra-time with just 10 men after Ross Crane was sent off for a second yellow in time added on.

It looked like being a repeat of Saturday’s 1-1 draw at Worksop when Lynn rued a number of missed opportunities, but a heroic effort saw them through to a trip to Curzon Ashton in the next round

Lynn were without Kyle McFadden, who went off injured or Saturday, and Josh Hmami, who picked up a niggle in the same game. In came Tom Wilson in central defence and Crane.

Good play by Gold Omotayo and Josh McCammon teed up a shot for Johnson but his effort sailed wide. The visitors were as aggressive in attack as they had been at the weekend, and just when Lynn looked like getting into their stride, they pegged them back.

Loose play at the back gave Vaughan Redford a shooting chance but it was easy for Paul Jones.

McCammon did well on the right of the area to spot Finlay Barnes in space, but the winger’s shot was blocked for a corner.

Barnes had a better chance moments later after the keeper failed to deal with a cross from the right, but he blazed it over from close range. McCammon shot just wife from Omotayo’s neat flick as Lynn began to threaten.

Midfielder Sam Walker was inches wide in first half added time as Lynn finished the half on a high and perhaps feeling unfortunate not to be ahead.

Omotayo was on the end of a perfect Dylan Crowe cross from the right but headed straight at the keeper from eight yards.

Lynn pinned the visitors back – although Daniel Bramall’s shot which stung Jones’s fingers just after the hour mark was a reminder of the dangers.

Lynn went into extra-time a man down, and Worksop sniffed blood. Jones produced a superb reaction save to deny Liam Hughes from close range.

A stretching Greg Taylor was inches away from connecting with Josh Coulson’s header.

Lynn were holding their own despite the disadvantage, and the crowd responded to their efforts – Tommy Hughes fired one down the keeper’s throat from distance but Lynn needed Jones to deny Jordan Burrow a minute from time.

King’s Lynn Town: Jones, Sass, Wilson, Taylor, Crowe (Ronan 87), Johnson, Walker, McCammon (Coulson 91), Crane, Barnes (Hughes 65), Omotayo (Williams 65). Subs not used: Boyes.

Worksop Town: Malkowski, Atherton, Wilde, Wedgbury (Hawkridge 69), Bencherif, Shiels, Starcenko, Redford, Burrow, Bramall(Hughes 65), Hall. Subs not used: Tomlinson, O’Malley, Taylor.

Att: 466