Brackley 1, Kings Lynn 1

Brackley 1, Kings Lynn 1

Lynn dug deep for a battling Southern League Premier Division point at St James' Park.

The Linnets were homing in on a smash and grab raid after Joe Francis had bravely nudged the visitors in front.

Lynn's big money summer recruit was stretched off with mild concussion after bundling Michael Frew's cross over the line inside the opening minutes.

Elliott Sandy's looping header pegged back Lynn on 71 minutes before Scott Howie's acrobatics denied the newly promoted Saints a late winner.

Assistant boss Lee Glover took charge with Keith Webb away on a scouting trip. Tiverton match winner John Turner was rested after his recent hamstring niggles. Defender Ben Chapman made a surprise return on the substitutes bench having missed all of Lynn's early campaign with a calf problem.

Sandy flashed a first time effort wide in a bright start. It was Francis who broke the deadlock with Lynn's first attacking foray - throwing himself at Frew's drilled cross.

Francis stayed motionless inside the box before being carried away after lengthy treatment with an ice pack clutched to his head.

Andrew Fisk was introduced forcing Adam Smith to replace Francis wide on the left of midfield. Steve Melton's lash from the edge deflected wide after loan front man Matt Nolan sneaked in behind the Brackley defence.

Danny Spencer's point blank header bounced over Howie's bar after Dave Savage's vicious dipping centre had deceived Lynn's stopper.

Mark Camm bailed out Howie after he fumbled Tom Winters' hanging free kick on his goal line as Brackley pinned the visitors back.

Lynn survived a stonewall penalty appeal midway through the opening period, Greg Lake appeared to up end Spencer but referee Field waved play on.

Lake eased Scott Hadland out of the picture after Sandy's whipped corner flew across the face of Lynn's box.

Fisk's fizzing effort was grasped by the diving Richard Knight in first half stoppage time after Nolan teed up the former Norwich Academy product with a cute lay-off.

Spencer grazed the crossbar on 54 minutes after out-jumping Charlie Defty to power Sandy's pinpoint centre over with Howie rooted to his line.

Craig Farley headed Nolan's goal-bound near-post flick away after Dean West sprung a quality counter.

Michael Love threw himself at Frew's angled strike just shy of the hour mark with Lynn searching for a killer second.

Sandy hacked down Fisk to earn the first caution but Brackley smuggled his quickly taken free kick clear.

Melton escaped censure for a wild hack from behind on Winters but Brackley's set piece expert ballooned his free-kick into the small pocket of home fans.

Brackley finally pierced Lynn's sturdy defensive wall when Sandy planted a looping header over Howie from six yards out after Defty's attempted clearance flew skywards.

Frew galloped down the right but his fierce cross shot smacked Hadland with Fiske ready to pounce.

Howie's wonder-stop denied Hadland with a superb reaction tipped onto the bar after Brackley's towering centre back threw himself at Winters driven cross.

Chapman replaced Melton for his competitive debut in the closing stages before the hobbling Lake was pushed up front after going down clutching his left hamstring.

Howie clawed out Winters dipping effort in the final seconds to earn Lynn a hard earned point.

t Brackley: Knight, Farley, Love, Hadland, Green, Brown, Sandy, Savage, Jackson, Spencer, Winters. Subs (not used): Stanbridge, Beard, Fontanelli, Willshire.

t Booking: Sandy

t Goal: Sandy (71)

t King's Lynn: Howie, West, Lake, Warren, C Defty, Camm, Frew, Melton (Chapman 78), Nolan (J Defty 64), Smith, Francis (Fisk 8). Subs (not used): Bloomfield, Murray

t Goal: Francis (4)

t Referee: A Field (Chesham)

t Attendance: 317