King's Lynn 3, Banbury United 1

King's Lynn 3, Banbury United 1

King's Lynn stay top of the Southern League after a comfortable victory this afteroon.

For today's game with Banbury United the Linnets were looking to consolidate their position at the top of the Southern League Premier Division table.

Lynn field an unchanged starting 11 from last week.

Banbury won the toss and set Lynn to attack the Seven Sisters End.

The Puritans went ahead on six minutes when BRIDGE beat West and cutting into the box along the byline was brought down by Sedgemore for referee O'Sullivan to have no hesitation in pointing to the penalty spot from which FULLER easily beat Howie to give the Puritans an early lead.

Beard for Banbury tried to play in Gordon but Crane was quickly in to relieve the danger. Lynn forced their first corner in the 9th minutes which was taken by Joe Francis with Warren getting in a powerful header which Frew deflected just wide.

Lynn forced a second corner which went across goal to the right wing and put back into the goalmouth and where Danny Bloomfield was just beaten to the ball by Wheeler.

Lynn again put the ball into the box this time by West which saw Defty hit the bar with his header before the ball was eventually scrambled clear.

However, Lynn did equalise in the 27th minute when Frew picked up the ball on the Lynn right after Banbury's defence failed to clear.

Playing the ball back in saw Jack DEFTY get his just reward with a strong volley from 10 yards.

A minute later Lynn went into the lead when Francis found BLOOMFIELD with a great through ball and the Linnets' leading scorer made no mistake with a precise shot into the far corner.

The Linnets nearly made it three minutes later but this time Wheeler got down to save the shot from Francis.

On the half-hour Crane made a good dribble into the box beating several defenders before finding Defty who in turn found Bloomfield but Wheeler was quick to avert the danger.

Banbury replied with Beard making a mazy run through the Lynn defence with Howie making a good save from the Banbury captain's shot as the Lynn defence recovered to clear their lines.

Lynn added to their lead after 39 minutes.

Sedgemore starting the move passing to West who in turn found Frew whose cross from the right beat goalkeeper Wheeler as he was challenged by Defty and Bloomfield the ball breaking to FRANCIS who rolled a side-footed shot slowly home.

Half-time: King's Lynn 3, Banbury 1

Banbury made two early substitutions at the start of the second half with Gooderich replacing Bridge and Murphy, a former King's Lynn player, replaced Blossom.

The first goal attempt of the second half for Lynn came from full back West whose effort was smothered by goalkeeper Wheeler.

On 69 minutes, Nolan came on for Bloomfield for the home side.

When Warren was beaten in the air by Gordon, Crane was forced to concede a corner from which Murphy head wide.

Both teams now made substitutions with Bryan replacing Feely for the visitors and Turner coming on for Frew.

Yet another high ball caused the Lynn defence problems with Murphy's shot being deflected for a corner.

On 85 minutes Lynn now made their third and final substitution with Andrew Fisk replacing Mark Camm.

The final action saw a long free kick from Crane force a corner which unaccountably saw Wheeler drop the kick but unfortunately no Lynn player was on hand to take advantage.

Lynn; Howie, West, Chapman, Warren, Crane, Camm, Frew, Sedgemore, J Defty, Bloomfield, Francis.

Banbury United: Wheeler, Feely, Kinch, Essex, Baird, Fuller, Bridges, Blossom, Bridge, Gordon, Stanbridge.

Referee: Mr B O'Sullivan, Peterborough.

Attendance: 1,174.