Culverhouse makes a winning return in the King's Lynn Town dugout

Alvechurch 0 King's Lynn Town 3

It was business as usual as Ian Culverhouse made a winning return as King's Lynn Town manager with a 3-0 success at high-flying Alvechurch.

Back with Lynn after a brief managerial stint at Grantham, Culverhouse saw his side prevail through first half goals from Ryan Hawkins (2) and Adam Marriott.

The surroundings in the midlands may have been a far cry from The Walks, but Lynn delivered a performance full of verve and swagger.

It was typical of many of the display's under Culverhouse last season and it was clear that the former Norwich City and Tottenham defender was glad to be back in the dugout.

Culverhouse said: "It's very good to be back. It's a great football club as I said previously. There's a lot of water gone under the bridge and I'm really happy to be back.

"It's a very good squad and we are going to try to do the best we can. There are some great players here and there have been some excellent additions made.

"I must say what a job both Neil (Fryatt) and Robbie (Back) have done. They've really got the players together and have brought people into the squad who are good players. They've got to be commended on the job they did."

Shortly after Ryan Hawkins' effort had crashed back off the woodwork, Lynn open the scoring when Michael Gash saw his effort brilliantly saved by Charlie Price before an alert Adam Marriott nodded home the rebound.

Eight minutes later it was 2-0 after Marriott laid the ball on the plate for Hawkins to tap home.

Lynn's third goal was all about the touch and vision of Marriott who was again the provider for Hawkins to add his second of the afternoon.

"It's all about the players and if you've got good ones then that makes the job easier for you," admitted Culverhouse.

"This group of players is very, very good. It was just about getting going and as soon that momentum kicks in it is hard to stop and that's what we will be trying to achieve this season.

"We played on the front foot and played in the right areas of the pitch and the goals came at good times.

"The first one settled everyone down and gave them a bit of belief and we just progressed from there."

Lynn saw the game out at a canter in the second half and Culverhouse acknowledged: "It was important that we didn't give Alvechurch anything in the first 20 minutes of the second half and we did that."

The only blemish for Lynn was a nasty cut to the eye of defender Ryan Fryatt which required three stitches at hospital.

Fryatt was forced to leave the field on the stroke of half-time and Culverhouse said: "It's a bad one. It's right on the lid of his eye and he's gone to hospital.

"We just hope it's not as serious as it looked as it is a deep one. It will test the squad because we don't have a lot of cover in that area."

King's Lynn Town: Street, Jones, Blake-Tracy, Jarvis, Fryatt (Richards 42), McAuley, Clunan, Henderson, Gash, Marriott (Limb 72), Hawkins (Parker 69).

Booked: McAuley.

Scorers: Marriott 5, Hawkins 13, 35.