Paddy Davitt King's Lynn 1, Tamworth 2: Lynn crashed out of the Setanta Shield at the first hurdle on Tuesday night against Gary Mills' well-drilled Tamworth outfit.

Paddy Davitt

King's Lynn 1, Tamworth 2

Lynn crashed out of the Setanta Shield at the first hurdle last night against Gary Mills' well-drilled Tamworth outfit.

Julian Joachim's second goal for the club stung Lynn into a late assault after Keith Webb's men were caught napping early on.

Jake Sheridan rifled past the sprawling Scott Howie with just 68 seconds gone. Bradley Pritchard's fortunate close-range header put the Lambs two up midway through the half after Charlie Defty's intended clearance dropped invitingly to the midfielder.

Joachim latched on to Mark Peters' towering knockdown to slam home a close-range half-volley to set up a belated grandstand finish.

The ex-Coventry striker started on the bench along with Fleetwood match-winner Michael Frew as Webb shuffled his pack.

Defender Ben Chapman (shoulder) and midfielder Mark Camm (dead leg) were also rested after being withdrawn at the weekend - Adam Smith slotting into Chapman's left back slot. Ben Sedgemore was restored to central midfield in tandem with Rushden loan signing Scott Mitchell.

John Turner earned his first start of the season in place of Frew on the right flank. Bloomfield replaced Joachim in attack alongside stand-in captain Jack Defty. Regular skipper Greg Crane sat out of the second of his three-match ban.

Sheridan's sharp strike flew into Howie's top corner from Tamworth's opening foray.

Tamworth keeper Will Puddy flapped at Joe Francis' inswinging free-kick but Simon Weaver was on his heels as Tamworth hacked clear Jack Defty's cutback.

Pritchard doubled the Lambs' lead on 25 minutes with a close-range header after Charlie Defty's attempted clearance ricocheted off Sheridan.

Michael Wylde bravely threw himself in the way of Bloomfield's rasping strike to preserve the visitors' advantage.

Dean Lead nipped past the advancing Howie but his tight-angled chip failed to lob the home keeper as Tamworth's pacy frontline continued to cause problems. Puddy clawed away Bloomfield's goalbound flick from another pinpoint Francis set-piece just past the half hour. Callum Burgess kicked Jack Defty's header away in the final stages of the half.

Howie parried Lead's low fizzing strike on the restart before Peters hacked away.

Craig McAughtrie hauled Jack Defty down on the edge of the box but Mitchell's curler sailed into the Hospital End. Jack Defty's far post header skimmed behind after Francis burst down the left. Howie foiled the razor sharp Lead on the hour mark as Cameron Jones led another incisive raid into enemy territory. Jack Defty's forceful run fashioned a half chance but Graeme Law hacked his cross shot away with Bloomfield lurking.

Webb introduced Frew and Joachim in a bid to spark a late response. The duo combined to grab Lynn a lifeline on 79 minutes - Joachim reacting quickest to swivel home a point blank half volley from Frew's initial inswinger.

Frew's strike clipped McAughtrie as the home crowd urged the Linnets' forward before the blond wideman miscued tamely seconds later.

Frew's long range free-kick floated into the Hospital End car park - set piece specialist Smith throwing up his arms in disgust. McAughtrie headed Jack Defty's stabbed strike off the line after a desperate bout of penalty box pinball involving emergency forward Peters and Joachim. Sedgemore drilled at Puddy in the first of four stoppage time minutes as rejuvenated Lynn poured forward.

Sheridan's keep ball session deep by the corner flag in Lynn's half underlined the late mood shift in the cup tie.

t King's Lynn: Howie, C Defty, Smith, Peters, Weaver, Sedgemore, Turner (Fisk 56), Mitchell, J Defty, Bloomfield (Joachim 67), Francis (Frew 64). Subs (not used): Kelly, Murray.

Goal: Joachim (79)

t Tamworth: Puddy, Burgess, Law, McAughtrie, Wylde, Warburton (Langdon 83), Pritchard, Hildreth (Sheldon 81), Lead, Jones (Smith 81), Sheridan. Subs (not used): Wright, Rodman.

Booking: Smith. Goals: Sheridan (2), Pritchard (25)

Added on time: 1 min / 4 min

Referee: S Feerick (Peterborough)

Attendance: 510

t King's Lynn's youth team begin their FA Youth Cup campaign tonight against Woodbridge Town at The Walks. (8pm) Admission prices: £2 adults, £1 concessions.