The Bucks made it three wins from three in 2026 as they held of a lively King’s Lynn side to win 2-1.

Match highlights

Match report

The visitors were winless in seven heading into the game, but they made a lively start and could, and perhaps should, have been ahead in the opening minutes. After Josh Gracey did well to keep out Jayden Davis’ 25-yard effort, the ball fell to Jack Goodman in a great position, but his effort was somehow flicked over the bar by Gracey as he scrambled back up of the floor to fling himself in the way.

The game then settled into an even affair, with neither side finding any particular fluency. On 27 minutes, Davis had another attempt that stung Gracey’s palms before the Bucks went down the other end and nearly snuck into the lead. Ammar Dyer cross found Matty Stenson six yard out, but Telford’s top scorer couldn’t get the ball out of his feet and hit his effort wide.

Stenson wasn’t to be denied though, and he put the Bucks in front in the 34th minute. Remi Walker opened up the King’s Lynn defence with a marvellous through ball to Dylan Allen-Hadley on the right, who hit a low cross across six yard box for Stenson to slide home from close range at the back post.

Having taken the lead, and thanks to a switch in formation, Kevin Wilkin’s men suddenly looked a lot more dangerous and duly doubled the lead on 40 minutes – albeit from a horrible defensive mistake from the Linnets. Paul Jones and Tai Fleming contrived to present the ball to Jamie Meddows, who carried the ball forward before confidently slotting past Jones and into the bottom corner. Moments later, Remi Walker nearly made it three, but Jones made a superb save to deny the young midfielder. 2-0 to the Bucks at half time.

King’s Lynn started the second half in positive fashion, but it was the Bucks who nearly grabbed the next goal of the game seven minutues after the break. Walker couldn’t get a clean shot away after meeting Leshabela’s low cross, but the ball fell to Stenson who span and fired towards goal, but his shot was well blocked a few yards out. Five minutes later, Allen-Hadley did superbly well to jink and weave his way down the left before looking to bend one into the far corner, but his effort flew just wide.

The Linnets were creating chances too, and they might have had a penalty when Goodman went down in the box, but referee Daniel Baines waved away the protests. King’s Lynn did find a way back into the game in the 64th minute, though. Davis played a good ball across into the left channel, and Simone Troso controlled well and dinked the ball over Gracey to halve the deficit.

That goal lifted the Linnets, and the Bucks had to dig in to keep them at bay. When the Norfolk side did create a glorious chance in the 78th minute, Gracey was on hand to make a super save to keep out Goodman’s header back across goal.

The mood inside the SEAH Stadium had certainly shifted, but Wilkin’s men were largely keeping the Linnets at arm’s length. As the game moved into stoppage time, Jordan Cranston nearly swung a freekick from by the corner straight in, but Jones just about stretched to tip it over the bar. King’s Lynn then went down the other, won a free kick, and from the delivery Rhys Doherty rose highest but could only head over the bar when he perhaps should have done better.

A largely even game overall, but the Bucks found a way to win 2-1, which sees Wilkin’s men move to within two points of the playoffs.

Match reaction