King's Lynn Town 2 Northampton Town 2

King’s Lynn Town fans saw a glimpse of the future as their team returned home for the first time this summer.

Manager Adam Lakeland’s first signing of his summer rebuild was Ross Crane from Leiston – and the wide man made a quick impression on fans with a sparkling appearance off the bench.

The 22-year-old was a box of tricks, setting up Lynn’s first goal and playing a part in the equaliser as the hosts came back from a 2-0 half-time deficit.

Lynn were facing their toughest opponents of the summer, but Lakeland will be delighted at the way his team fought their way back into the game.

Lynn keeper Paul Jones was at full stretch to keep out a shot from ex-Norwich City man Will Hondermarck but a minute later was beaten by a shot from a similar spot just outside the area, the pre-season favourite ‘trialist’ getting the goal.

Kyle Callan-McFadden’s wayward pass out of defence gifted Northampton a second on 31 minutes, James Wilson the grateful receipt of the gift.

Lynn knocked the ball about well at times, but chances were few and far between for Omotayo and Jonny Margetts, while at the other end of the pitch, it was poor defending which gave Cobblers their half-time lead.

Omotayo led a swift Lynn attack 10 minutes after the break, playing the ball wide left to Freddie Sass whose thunderbolt from the edge of the area cannoned off the keeper’s right-hand post.

Lynn made a triple change just after the hour mark, with Bartosz Cybulski joining Omotayo and Margetts in attack, with Ross Crane coming on as a supply line from the flank.

The goal Lynn deserved arrived on 71 minutes, and owed much to a brilliant piece of skill by Crane on the right flank, where he left Cobblers sub Joziah Barnett standing before sliding a perfect pass in to Josh Hmami, whose shot was saved well by the keeper, only for Margetts to pick up the loose ball and smash home.

Minutes later Crane came close with a swerving free-kick which took a deflection, forcing keeper Nik Tzanev into a good low save.

It was all square on 79 minutes when sub Cian Ronan’s low ball across the area was met by fellow sub Cybulski who had the easiest of jobs to knock home.

King’s Lynn: Jones, Sass (Trialist 90), McFadden (Isaacson 85%, Taylor, Coulson (Cybulski 64|), Hmami (Trialist 80, Hughes, Omotayo (Whitely 80), Margetts, McCammon (Crane 64), Crowe (Ronan 64). Subs not used: Boyes.

Goal: Margetts 71, Cybulski 79

Northampton: Tzanev, Magloire, McGowan (Ireland 61), Wilson (Dobson 61), Dibley-Dias, Hondermarck, Tomlinson, Baldwin, Morton, Trialist (Odimayo 61), Trialist (Barnett 69). Subs not used: Wyatt, Jenkins, Trialist.

Goals: Trialist 15, Wilson 31