King’s Lynn Town will begin their new season on Saturday without their top striker from last season, but they still have plenty of attacking options.
Jonny Margetts will miss the game against Warrington Town and next weekend’s match at Alfreton due to a red card in the final game of last season.
Margetts scored nine goals in just 14 starts last season, but manager Adam Lakeland now has a stronger squad, with Bart Cybulski and the returning Gold Omotayo eager to make an impact early on.
Lakeland, whose team scored 25 goals in nine pre-season games, sees good support behind them in attack.
“We’ve got players who can score goals,” Lakeland said. “Last season, we relied too much on set-plays or Jonny for goals, but now we have energy, pace, and scoring threats across the pitch.
“Jonny, Bart, Gold, Ross (Crane), and young Finn (Whiteley) have all been impressive in pre-season and are a threat when on the pitch. Midfielders Josh (McCammon) and Josh (Hmami) are also adventurous and eager to get forward, contribute goals, and be creative.
“And we still have that threat from set-plays. So, we’ve got goals throughout the team, which will be crucial this season.”
Highlighting other scoring options is not an attempt to downplay Margetts’ absence – the 30-year-old is a proven and experienced player at this level.
“Jonny is not only a goal scorer but also a leader,” Lakeland said. “He works tirelessly, applies himself well in training, and leads by example on the pitch with his work rate and demands on others.
“Any team would miss Jonny because he’s a goal scorer, but as a club aiming for success this season, we can’t rely on just one goal scorer.
“We need multiple goal sources, and we’ve got Gold, Bart, and others who can contribute.”
Omotayo ended pre-season with a hat-trick in a 4-0 win over Luton Under-21s at the weekend.
“I thought all three of his goals were fantastic,” Lakeland said. “We’re only going to improve as the season progresses, especially with a lot of new players in the team. The more we play together, the better our understanding of each other’s strengths will become.”
Lynn’s pre-season suggests they’ve moved on from last season’s relegation battle, but Lakeland is aware of the challenges ahead.
“If you have a bad start, you’re back in a relegation fight. Like every other team, we want to start well, but games at our level are tough, and every match will be challenging. However, I believe we’ve assembled a competitive side that can compete in every game. We’re fit, confident, and together as a group, and winning games will only strengthen that. That’s what we’re aiming to do on Saturday.”
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