Bath City 1, King's Lynn 1

Following away trips to Merthyr Tydfil last Saturday, and Bromsgrove in a midweek Southern League Cup encounter, the Linnets faced another long trip to fellow promotion challengers Bath City.

Two late changes meant Lynn were without central defender Grant Cooper and midfielder Shaun Carey for this important encounter, Cooper having been an important part of Lynn's challenge to date.

The Linnets forced the game's first corner in the opening minute and home 'keeper Evans had to save from Matt Nolan.

But two minutes later it was NOLAN who beat the offside trap to round Evans and open the scoring for the visitors.

Defty was put through minutes later, but delayed his shot and was crowded out.

City's opening corner after 14 minutes was comfortably cleared by the Lynn defence and, from the ball played upfield to Bloomfield, the Lynn marksman was shown the yellow card for kicking the ball away after a foul had been harshly awarded against him.

A mistake in midfield by Bath almost put Nolan clear, but Jones came across to put the ball out for a corner, from which Nolan missed his kick from inside the City penalty area.

Lynn's Jones made two important tackles when Sykes broke through on the city left, but the visitors were certainly playing the better football and were well worth their slender lead in the opening half-hour.

Defty was then cautioned for a late tackle and although City began to push forward a little more, Lynn 'keeper Benstead was untroubled.

t Half-time - Bath City 0, King's Lynn 1

A couple of city attacks at the start of the second period were well stopped by Lynn defenders but a quick break by Nolan was hit just behind the inrushing Defty and the chance was lost.

Anselin was putting some telling passes to the home back line and from two of those Nolan and Bloomfield just failed to control the ball when it mattered. When Bath did attack their final ball was usually way off target. Defty then beat three defenders on the left but when he passed to Nolan the Lynn player again failed to control the ball.

City's Walsh then weakly headed to Benstead when well placed on 62 minutes, probably City's only decent chance to date. Lynn broke again on 72 minutes and after some good passing Nolan raced through the city defence but keeper Evans came out to kick clear. Two minutes later and after a hectic scramble in the Lynn penalty area HARRIS put the ball into the Lynn net to pull the scores level.

City certainly upped the pressure after their goal and Lynn were having to defend hard against a rejuvenated Bath.

A couple of home corners caused more problems for Lynn but they were defending stoutly. Benstead was extended twice in quick succession but Nolan tested Evans again in a quick break at the other end. Peters came on for Nolan with minutes to go but hardly got a kick before the final whistle blew with the points shared - fair result.

t Final score: Bath City 1, King's Lynn 1

t Attendance: 631

t Bath City: Evans, Rollo, S Jones, Coupe, G Jones, Harris, Bird, Clarke, Walsh, Partridge, Sykes. Subs: Holloway, Power, Davidge, Holland, York.

t King's Lynn: Benstead, Jones, Smith, West, Camm, Anselin, Defty, Harvey, Nolan, Bloomfield, McMahon. Subs: Hammond, Peters.