King's Lynn Town 1 Banbury United 2

King’s Lynn Town slid to their fourth defeat in a row as memories of a glorious night at The Walks three weeks ago were well and truly put to bed.

A famous home win over leaders Scunthorpe last month looked to have lit the blue touch paper for the Linnets. But the reality is very different – an FA Trophy exit and three National League North defeats has followed.

Lynn went behind early on to old boy Ken Charles before Banbury doubled their lead soon after the break. Half-time sub Bartosz Cybulski pulled one back, but Lynn midfielder Cameron Hargreaves was shown a second yellow and Lynn’s hopes of a comeback went with him.

Lynn boss Adam Lakeland was missing suspended on-loan midfielder George Morrison but will have been delighted to see some old hands involved - Josh Barrett started after a seven-week absence while Jordan Ponticelli was starting for the first time since Lakeland’s opening game in charge, a home defeat by Buxton in early October. Midfielder Tommy Hughes was named on the bench along with Tom Clifford.

Ponticelli tested keeper Jack Harding, who had to palm away a long-ranger on 10 minutes – Josh Coulson’s header from the corner bounced up into the keeper’s arms.

But it was Charles who struck the first decisive blow, firing home a delightful 25-yard free-kick on 14 minutes.

Two minutes later he tried a cheeky backheel from six yards, but keeper Paul Jones was aware of the danger.

Lynn responded well to the goal, without really troubling the visiting keeper - even when Jack Smith was teed up by Barrett, but fired over from 12 yards after the ball had taken a nasty bobble.

Gabriel Rogers put a free-kick straight down Harding’s throat as Lynn went in behind at the break.

Lakeland made a double change at the break, Cybulski and Clifford replacing Barrett and Smith respectively as his team reverted to three at the back.

But nine minutes after the restart Lynn fell further behind, Adi Yussuf turning in the area and given time to fire into the net.

However, it was game on just four minutes later, Coulson heading Ben Stephens’ corner back across goal and Cybulski glancing it over the line.

They almost drew level on 64 minutes, but Ponticelli was denied in a one-on-one with Harding, who then held on to Stephens’ follow-up effort.

Hargreaves departed on 67 minutes to a harsh second yellow card for a high boot and it was uphill from then on.

Ponticelli slid one past the post after being set up by the impressive Rogers and Coulson saw a shot from a corner blocked on the line.

King’s Lynn Town: P Jones, Ronan, Crowther, Coulson (Fatadjo 89), Callan-McFadden, Rogers, Hargreaves, Smith (Clifford), Ponticelli, Barrett (Cybulski 46), Stephens. Subs not used: Hughes, Oke.

Goal: Cybulski 58

Banbury: Harding, Maye, Waller, Fleming, D’Ath, Charles, Yussuf, Kelly-Evans, Obadeyi, Hall, Maja-Alesu (Giles 73). Subs not used: Barlow, Hewitt, Scott.

Goals: Charles 14, Yussuf 54

Att: 604