Brackley 1, King's Lynn 1: Three players were sent off as King's Lynn continued their build-up to the new season with a bad-tempered draw at St James' Park.

Brackley 1, King's Lynn 1

Lynn substitute Jordan Smith was sent off in the closing stages of a bad-tempered friendly last night at St James Park.

Smith earned a straight red card for a challenge on Wayne Blossom that saw the Brackley defender stretchered from the field with heavy strapping around his right leg.

Linnets' boss Carl Heggs pleaded for leniency with referee Russell before both managers called a halt with fully three minutes of normal time left after an impromptu touchline conference - Heggs confirming afterwards the decision had come from the dug-outs after speaking to his Brackley counterpart and former team-mate Jon Brady. Russell had earlier ordered off both Linnets' top gun Gareth Sheldon and Brackley defender Danny Spencer following a second half altercation. Sheldon's cool 49th-minute penalty cancelled out Tom Winters' strike inside the opening seconds.

The Southern Premier hosts bossed the first period before Lynn upped the tempo considerably on the restart. - sparked by some choice half time words from Heggs. Owen Storey returned after missing the weekend romp over Histon with two-goal attacker Smith left on the bench.

Winters latched on to Blossom's hopeful punt to hold off a sprawling Craig McAughtrie before firing underneath ex-Mansfield keeper Jason White from 12 yards with 32 seconds gone.

Brackley left back Mark Duckett was carried away on six minutes after landing awkwardly on his left ankle in a full blooded collision with Andy Johnson.

Storey expertly controlled Phil Green's cross on his chest before unleashing a sharp half volley parried by Richard Morris - Sheldon flagged offside after despatching the rebound.

Andy Boyce should have levelled on 28 minutes with a towering header inches over from Green's corner. White gathered Anderson's snapshot at the opposite end when Brackley's dangerman outmuscled Liam Murray at the back post. Johnson's vision teed up Green who drilled at Morris from an acute angle with the hosts appealing in vain for offside.

Callum Lloyd's sublime crossfield ball dropped for Storey who was upended by Callum Burgess inside the box on the restart - Sheldon stepping up to despatch his fifth goal of the pre-season campaign.

Sheldon's far post header dropped wide from Joe Magunda's deep cross with the visitors now in the ascendancy. Lynn's goalscorer was ushered away on 69 minutes along with Town's Spencer after the duo faced off as the temperature started to rise.

Anthony Robinson's glancing header was chalked off for an apparent push in the build-up. Ben Mackey drilled a 20 yard free kick straight at White before McAughtrie's speculative reply swung wide as both sides pushed for a winner until Smith's red brought an early halt to the proceedings.

t Brackley (starting XI): Morris, Ereen, Duckett, Blossom, McIlwain, Burgess, Anderson, Kearns, Rawle, Mackey, Winters. Goal: Winters (1)

t King's Lynn: White, Magunda, Murray, Johnson, McAughtrie, Boyce, Storey (Martin 72), Lloyd, Sheldon (Robinson 68), Birley, Green (Smith 45). Subs not used: Webb, Rose, Whatsize. Goal: Sheldon (49).