Lynn boss Tommy Taylor saluted his squad's staying power after edging a fiesty British Gas Business Southern League, Premier Division derby.

King's Lynn 3, Stamford 1

Lynn boss Tommy Taylor saluted his squad's staying power after edging a fiesty British Gas Business Southern League, Premier Division derby.

Taylor the tinkerman made four fresh changes to his starting line up ahead of Lynn's fourth outing in nine days.

Jack Defty applied the finishing touch to a surgical strike 44 seconds into the contest. Stamford's bustling left back Rob Greetham capitalised on Shaun Marshall's rare misjudgement to draw the visitors' level.

Linnets skipper Mark Warren marked his home debut with a stunning half volley shortly after the break before Defty's acrobatic lob killed off the dazed Daniels two minutes later.

"I've got a bench this season that I can put on players and not worry," admitted Taylor. "I told the lads before Maidenhead on Saturday what I was planning to do. With all the games and training it's just too much for some non league players -we needed to manage legs.

"We've taken seven points from our first 12 and I'm happy with that. It's been a good comeback since the Halesowen defeat. There's something to build on and we will get better."

Taylor preached patience at the interval after Stamford had cancelled out Lynn's turbo-charged start.

"I asked the lads not to worry," he said. "I knew we could open them up and create chances. I don't think a Stamford player touched the ball before we scored the opener - it was a great passing move and that is what we're capable of.

"Marsh said he went to catch the ball from the corner for their equaliser and it got carried on the wind - although the lad still had a free header. Set pieces were their main weapon but I thought we dealt with it well.

"We scored early again second half and should've had more - the keeper made two blinding stops."

Taylor reserved special praise for his striking unit - Matt Nolan restored to the line up alongside two-goal hitman Defty.

"Matt was excellent," he said. "No player is happy at being left out but he knows why and he responded in the right way by putting himself about and trying hard. For big Jack to get three in a week is pleasing and the boy (Michael) Frew just needs a goal now because his workrate is spot on."

Frew started on the bench alongside midfield duo Shaun Carey and Frazer Toms with striker Paul Atkins suspended.

Sam McMahon partnered Mark Camm in central midfield with Luke Kennedy and Matt O'Halloran patrolling the flanks.

Defty crashed O'Halloran's inviting inswinger past Ian Pledger inside the opening minute.

Grant Cooper's exocet hit Daniels skipper Martin Matthews after McMahon had picked out the marauding centre back before Pledger went full length to deny Cooper again.

Lynn old boy Robbie Harris hooked over from eight yards midway through the opening period.

Referee McIntosh waved away two strong penalty appeals for the hosts when Scott Musgrove recklessly swiped O'Halloran.

Marshall foiled Musgrove from long range but the Linnets stopper was left badly exposed when Scott Wilson's sharp lob rolled a yard wide of his far post.

Cooper was booked for a mistimed lunge on Harris. Stamford equalised just past the half hour mark - Greetham pouncing on Marshall's hesitation at the back stick to despatch Musgrove's corner.

Lynn countered with Warren's snapshot striking Matthews and Nolan's near post header flying inches over.

Taylor's men unleashed a decisive one two after the restart. Warren fired past the unsighted Pledger after Dean West's quick thinking had picked out Nolan.

Defty bravely prodded home O'Halloran's hopeful punt eight yards out before Pledger clattered the goalscorer for his pains.

Lynn threatened to cut loose - first O'Halloran then McMahon setting their sights.

Pledger single handedly foiled Lynn twice within a minute - a superb fingertip save denying Defty the matchball before grasping O'Halloran's point blank header at the second attempt.

Marshall's inactivity ended when he parried Mark Angel's set piece behind.

The former Linnet picked up a late booking for dissent then Greetham tested the referee's patience with an ugly lunge through the back of Nolan.

Ex Boston team mates Angel and West squared up as tempers threatened to boil over in stoppage time.

King's Lynn: Marshall, West, Smith, Warren, Camm, Cooper, J Defty (Frew 73), McMahon (Carey 74), Nolan, Kennedy (Toms 80), O'Halloran. Subs (not used): Fell, Defty C.

Bookings: Cooper, O'Halloran.

Goals: J Defty (1, 53), Warren (51)

Stamford: Pledger, Jones, Greetham, Bowater, Matthews, Oswin (Marshall 68), Foster, Wilson (Angel 59), Taylor, Harris (Holmes 59), Musgrove. Subs (not used): Feetham, O'Dea.

Bookings: Musgrove, Angel, Greetham, Jones.

Goal: Greetham (34)

Attendance: 878

Referee: W McIntosh (Lincs)