King's Lynn 1, Farsley Celtic 4

Paddy Davitt

Injury-hit Lynn crashed to their first Blue Square North home defeat today against Farsley Celtic at The Walks.

Farsley striker James Walshaw pounced on defensive disarray twice inside a first half minute to put the visitors in total command.

James Knowles' near post header just shy of the hour mark killed the contest before Jake Speight fired past Scott Howie deep in stoppage time.

Scott Mitchell's second half strike proved scant consolation for the hosts who suffered a double defensive injury blow to cap a miserable afternoon for Keith Webb's men.

Simon Weaver and Mark Peters were both withdrawn in the first half - Weaver taken to hospital with a nasty head wound while Peters watched the last rites on crutches after hobbling off with a knee injury.

Only Howie's early heroics prevented a heavier defeat with two fantastic reaction stops denying the razor sharp Yorkshire outfit prior to Lyn's defensive injury blows.

Weaver had earlier passed a pre-match fitness test along with Adam Smith as Webb named an unchanged line up. Top scorer Jack Defty also shook off a stomach bug to partner Danny Bloomfield in attack. Defty's brace sunk Wroxham in last weekend's FA Cup third qualifying round derby at Trafford Park.

Former Premiership striker Julian Joachim again started on the substitutes' bench with midfielder Ben Sedgemore omitted from the Linnets' match day squad.

Supporters, players and officials paused for a silent tribute to Maurice Ebbs in memory of the long serving Lynn official who passed away on the eve of the club's FA Cup Wroxham win.

Peters introduced himself with a crunching tackle from behind on Walshaw inside the opening seconds.

Howie bravely gathered at Walshaw's feet after the pacy Farsley front man raced in behind.

Howie's acrobatic reaction stop foiled James Knowles - the unmarked centre back latching onto Tom Penford's precise corner.

The luckless Weaver opened an old cut with a meaty aerial challenge in front of the dug outs on 12 minutes - the full back helped down the tunnel for further medical treatment.

Mitchell then threw himself at Walshaw from point blank range as Farsley looked to cash in on their numerical advantage.

Howie then produced a world class parry to tip over Matthew Jones' goal bound lash from ten yards.

Andrew Fisk eventually replaced Weaver on 18 minutes forcing Webb to shuffle his pack with Charlie Defty switching to right back and Smith re-deployed on the opposite defensive flank.

Peters then needed treatment after a goalmouth melee before worryingly hobbling away from the action clutching his right knee.

Walshaw fended off Charlie Defty to lift over Howie with Lynn waiting to make their second injury-enforced change - Ross Kelly introduced at right back as Charlie Defty switched to centre half.

Farlsey's hitman doubled his tally seconds later - pouncing on disarray in the home defensive ranks to race through and scuff past the exposed Howie.

Joe Francis was upended on the edge of the Farsley penalty box on 39 minutes - Michael Frew's lofted free kick sailing harmlessly behind to the growing frustration of the home support.

Bloomfield's near post header was deflected away on 43 minutes in the home side's first real sight of Curtis Aspden's goal. Andy Campbell raced onto Lee Tuck's throughball but dragged wide in stoppage time.

t Half-time: King's Lynn 0, Farsley Celtic 2

Tuck earned the first caution of the contest for upending Francis as a minor shoving match ensued in the aftermath.

Frew's first time strike slammed Amjad Iqbal from Smith's probing free kick as Lynn finally pressed the visitors back.

Webb played his last card on 58 minutes with John Turner replacing Bloomfield. But Knowles flashed home a near post header seconds later from Dominic Krief's inswinging free kick to clinch the points.

Francis' speculative long range effort sailed into the Hospital End. Mitchell's fizzing strike on 73 minutes gave Lynn a glimmer of hope - rifling into the bottom corner from 16 yards after Andrew Fisk's initial strike was blocked.

Celtic stopper Aspden earned a caution for attempting to prevent Lynn retrieving the ball for the kick off.

Fisk's probing throughball just evaded Jack Defty with the hosts trying to up the ante.

Skipper Greg Crane miscued inside the Celtic penalty box with Lynn committing men forward before Speight broke away to complete the rout deep in stoppage time.

t Result: King's Lynn 1, Farsley Celtic 4

t King's Lynn: Howie, Weaver (Fisk 18), C Defty, Peters (Kelly 25), Crane, Smith, Frew, Mitchell, J Defty, Bloomfield (Turner 58), Francis. Subs (not used): Joachim, Murray.

Goal: Mitchell (73)

t Farsley Celtic: Aspden, Stabb, Serrant, Iqbal, Knowles (Price 64), Penford, James (Prendergast 80), Krief, Campbell (Speight 72), Walshaw, Tuck. Subs (not used): Jackson, Backhouse.

Bookings: Tuck, Walshaw, Aspden

Goals: Walshaw (25, 26), Knowles (59), Speight (90)

t Added on time: 2 mins / 3 mins

t Referee: D Plowright (Notts)

t Attendance: 1,121