Mark Hearle The Linnets aimed this afternoon at The Walks to put behind them the disappointment of last weekend's defeat at Hemel Hempstead Town. Manager Keith Webb made two changes to his starting line up from that side.

Mark Hearle

The Linnets aimed this afternoon at The Walks to put behind them the disappointment of last weekend's defeat at Hemel Hempstead Town. Manager Keith Webb made two changes to his starting line up from that side. Charlie Defty returned to the team following a lengthy illness which allowed Mark Camm to revert to a more familiar central midfield position. On the bench ex Norwich City player Craig Fleming made a return after a lengthy absence with an ankle problem. For the visitor's Rugby Town ex Linnet David Staff was included along with ex Birmingham City and Cardiff City's Paul Devlin.

The first action of the match saw referee Stephen Ross booking visiting number seven Paul Devlin for a foul on Lynn winger Francis.

On 12 minutes Howie saw his first action of the afternoon as Stone's low-angled drive from the right-hand side required the big Scot to make a diving save.

The Linnets' first attempt on goal arrived with 14 minutes of play gone as Jack Defty's header hit the Rugby bar following a Joe Francis corner with keeper Foulds well beaten.

A minute later Jack Defty's lay-off saw Camm stab a shot wide of Foulds' goal. Lynn were enjoying a good spell of play and Francis forced Stringfellow into a poor back pass which Jack Defty, despite rounding his marker, failed to take full advantage of.

Rugby's Stone then played in his fellow strike partner Pearson who fired wildly over Howie's bar.

Half-way through the half the Linnets got their noses in front as Melton's deep cross saw Francis apply a crisp header at the back post to easily beat Foulds in the Rugby goal.

Francis then found himself in the referee's notebook for a foul on Devlin and moments later Crane joined him in the book this time for a foul on Stone. Francis was again in the action on 42 minutes as another low cross from the left saw Bloomfield dummy the ball which allowed Jack Defty a direct strike on goal but he found Foulds in good form and the chance had gone.

On the stroke of the interval visiting midfielder Musgrove became the fourth player to find himself in the referee's notebook, this time for a foul on Melton.

t Half-time: King's Lynn 1 Rugby Town 0

The second half began with the Linnets again on the front foot with Jack Defty's persistence paying off which saw him cross the ball in for Bloomfield whose shot was deflected away for a corner which came to nothing.

On 50 minutes Francis' low-driven cross was narrowly missed by Bloomfield but Melton then whipped the ball back across goal which saw a Jack Defty header which was saved by Foulds for yet another corner. Francis' delivery was again expertise which allowed Melton the chance to test Foulds who again pushed the ball away for a corner which resulted in nothing.

A minute later Breward was booked for a foul on Jack Defty. The brothers Defty, Charlie and Jack, combined with the latter producing a spectacular overhead bicycle kick which hit the bar and bounced to safety. On the hour mark John Turner was introduced for Melton. The busy Francis dragged a shot wide but a minute later his radar was back on course as his precise cross picked out Jack Defty whose stooping header beat Foulds easily to put his side two goals to the good.

With a two-goal cushion now in place Keith Webb was able to replace Bloomfield with Nolan and Camm was replaced by Fisk with the manager possibly having one eye on the fixture at Hitchin on Tuesday.

Shortly after this Rugby were reduced to 10 men as Breward picked up a second yellow resulting in a red for a wild lunge at Francis.

With 11 minutes of play remaining Nolan tried his luck from distance, however his shot didn't trouble Foulds in the Rugby goal.

Again Francis produced a stunning cross which was missed by inches by three on-rushing forwards and moments later the same player tried his luck with a driven shot which was saved by Foulds. With time running out full-back West fizzed in a 25-yard shot which cleared the bar but by this time the home side had done more than enough to secure the three league points.

t Result: King's Lynn 2, Rugby Town 0

t King's Lynn: Howie, West, Chapman, C Defty, Crane, Camm, Melton, Sedgemore, J Defty, Bloomfield, Francis.

Subs: Turner, Nolan, Fisk, Fleming, Murray.

t Rugby Town: Faulds, Stringfellow, Morley, Herbert, Gordon, Breward, Devlin, Musgrove, Pearson, Stone, Staff.

Subs: Francis, Evans, Edge, Aladetoun, Kolodynski.

t Ref: S Ross, Boston, Lincs.

t Attendance: 1025.