King's Lynn 0, Merthyr Tydfil 3: Lynn were hoping to return to winning ways following their defeat by league leaders Salisbury City on Tuesday evening - but instead it was a disappointing defeat.

King's Lynn 0, Merthyr Tydfil 3: Lynn were hoping to return to winning ways following their defeat by league leaders Salisbury City on Tuesday evening - but instead it was a disappointing defeat.

The good news was that central defender Grant Cooper was declared fit, but captain Sam McMahon was unavailable because of a leg injury.

The first item of note of this afternoon's encounter was the fact that almost half of Tuesday's attendance of 1,800-plus had disappeared from The Walks in just four days.

In the sixth minute, Lynn's Smith struck the Merthyr woodwork with a shot from 25 yards and, a few minutes later, Cooper netted but was offside.

However, in their first real attack, after 12 minutes, Merthyr went ahead when Benstead did very well to save from Shepherd but the striker followed up to prod the ball home.

Minutes later, 'keeper Benstead had to be replaced by Higgs after hurting his back making the earlier save.

The Welsh side were adopting a strict route one approach with the big kick downfield stopping Lynn from playing any form of football on the ground.

On the half-hour, O'Halloran fired a good chance wide, but such chances were too few and too far between for Lynn.

A Smith effort sailed wide just before the break, but from the home side's point of view, the opening 45 minutes were best forgotten.

Half-time - King's Lynn 0, Merthyr Tydfil 1

Lynn started the second half in more purposeful style and Cooper was only just wide with a first time effort. Still however passes were not finding the right man especially on the approach to the Merthyr goal. Smith was again off the mark when put in by Defty but Merthyr were only inches wide themselves when Fowler headed wide from in front of the home goal on 54 minutes. Charles then replaced the injured O'Halloran and Peters for the struggling Cooper. In spite of lots of huff and puff Lynn continued to struggle to find form and when eventually defty did get the ball into the Welsh net it was ruled offside.

On 75 minutes the home side's misery was compounded when Harvey missed his kick when chasing back leaving SHEPHARD to place the ball past Higgs for his and Merthyr's second. Two minutes later it was three when TAYLOR hit a loose ball over Higgs from 25 yards. With nothing up front, little coming from midfield and the Lynn defence unusually all over the place the home side couldn't complain at this heavy and unexpected defeat which could well have a severely detrimental effect on Lynn's chances in the playoffs.

Full time: King's Lynn 0, Merthyr Tydfil 3

t King's Lynn: Benstead, West, Smith, Harvey, Cooper, Camm, Defty, Anselin, Nolan, Carey, OHalloran. Subs: Peters, Hyde, Charles, Hammond, Higgs.

t Methyr Tydfil: Maurice, Williams S, Keddle, Lewis, Whalton, Welsh, Thomas, Fowler, Shephard, Moses, Dimond. Subs: Jones, Chappell, Owen, Williams D.

t Attendance 843.