Team Bath 1,King's Lynn 3: King's Lynn included new signing Lee Charles in their squad for today's trip to the West Country but Tommy Taylor kept him on the bench.

Southern League Premier Division: Team Bath 1,King's Lynn 3

King's Lynn included new signing Lee Charles in their squad for today's trip to the West Country but Tommy Taylor kept him on the bench.

Lynn 'keeper Benstead was called into early action when he had to collect a close-range header from under his bar in the second minute.

West then got in a good cross from the right for Lynn but Anselin was forced to pass backwards, away from the Bath goal, and the chance was lost.

In the next attack, the visitors' Nolan headed over, but back came Bath after nine minutes to force their first corner, which was easily cleared.

Giles in the home goal then had to come out smartly to block an O'Halloran cross, but play in the first quarter was generally scrappy from both sides.

The Linnets took the lead after 18 minutes when a Defty header was knocked back across the Bath goal by Nolan for O'HALLORAN to smash home with his left foot from 12 yards.

Five minutes later, a superb chip over the defence by Nolan put Defty clear, but he shot straight at Giles.

O'Halloran then put another goalscoring opportunity wide when put through by Defty, as Lynn began to get on top.

The playing surface was already showing distinct signs of cutting up, with the goalmouths and the centre circle becoming increasingly like mudbaths as the first half came to an end - not conducive to football on the ground by any means.

Just on the whistle, Lynn's Smith was hacked down by Tisdale, whose name went straight into the referee's book.

O'Halloran started the second half by shooting well wide from distance, but Smith - injured in the first half - had to be substituted by Harvey.

Six minutes into the half, Cooper's long ball was pulled back into the Bath area by O'Halloran, Defty dummied and left NOLAN clear to fire home Lynn's second goal.

A long-distance header by Canham sailed well over in a rare home attack but at the other end, Anselin wasted a free-kick on the edge of the home area by shooting well over.

Bath did the same a few minutes later with Canham firing yards too high from a good position.

After 63 minutes, however, the home side pulled a goal back when substitute ADAMS headed in from a corner.

This forced Lynn into upping the tempo and, from the second of successive corners, NOLAN nudged the ball over the goalline for his second and Lynn's third after 66 minutes.

New signing Lee Charles then came on for his Lynn debut in place of Defty, while Jones for Anselin.

Cooper appeared somewhat fortunate after 75 minutes when his attacker, running clear, went down under the Lynn player's close attention, but the colour of the official's card was only yellow. O'Halloran quickly followed into the same notebook for a late challenge.

Bath were pushing Lynn on to the back foot, causing the defenders to make a number of important clearances in order to maintain their side's two-goal advantage.

This they did and the game concluded with Lynn's promotion challenge still well on track. Lynn's next two home fixtures see second in the table Chippenham at The Walks on Tuesday evening, followed by the visit of top side Salisbury next Saturday.

t Team Bath: Giles, Rutter, Maye, Cozic, Hudson, Metitiri, Tisdale, M Canham, Jaukovic, S Canham, Long. Subs: Turnley, Coppard, Adams, Reid, Chitty.

t King's Lynn: Benstead, West, Smith, McMahon, Cooper, Camm, Defty, Anselin, Nolan, Carey, O'Halloran. Subs: Jones, Hammond, Peters, Harvey, Charles.