Steve Spriggs netted a brace while Ross Watson scored a wonder goal to secure Lynn's third consecutive victory in the league.

In a game of penalties, Spriggs missed one but scored the rebound before Martin Smythe equalised from the spot at the other end after Danny Gay had committed a foul inside his own box.

However, Spriggs soon netted his and Lynn's second penalty of the afternoon - their fourth spot-kick award in two games - to restore Lynn's lead before Watson struck.

The defender found the net from almost half-way to open up a two-goal lead that Lynn looked never in danger of losing as they kept up their fine start to life at Step Four.

Midweek signing Gay played his first game for Lynn, since the original club folded, in almost three years as he replaced Alex Street in goal. Midfielder Rob Hughes came into the side at the expense of Danny Beaumont while Watson replaced Ryan Fryatt at right-back.

With Lynn looking to continue their fine start to the season, which saw them sitting second in the table before the game, it didn't take them long to create the game's first half-chance in the 12th minute. However, in-form winger Spriggs scuffed his effort on the turn.

Russell Dunkley was in his usual dominant form terrorising the hosts' centre-backs by winning flick-ons and he went close just after the 15-minute mark thanks to Damian Clarke racing off his life to smother his effort. The chance was created by another outstanding run from left-back by Jordan Yong.

Minutes later Watson had an effort blocked on the line and Gary Setchell's side were quickly awarded a penalty as Brad Munn was adjudged to have handled inside the area. Spriggs missed the spot-kick but turned the rebound home.

Gay was called into action for the first time 60 seconds later when he smartly held Smythe's angled drive from the edge of the area as he continued to look in commanding form.

But just past the half-hour he pulled Jermaine Palmer down, after Watson had played him onside, to create the game's second penalty. Smythe rammed the ball home to pull the teams level.

But the Linnets quickly restored their lead four minutes later when Dan Quigley was hauled down by a combination of Sports' centre-back Nick Wood and keeper Clarke.

This time Spriggs made no mistake from 12 yards to double his account. And to be fair it was the least Setchell's side deserved for their efforts.

The second-half turned into something of a scrappier affair until Watson scored an early contended for goal of his life, let alone Lynn's season

The right-back spotted the Mickleover shot-stopper off his line and drove his strike over his head and into the net from just inside the opposition's half.

Spriggs went close with a well-struck drive as he went in search of his hat-trick and Lynn's fourth. But Palmer issued a timely reminder that his Derbyshire-team were still in the game when he flashed a header over Gay's bar.

Mickleover: Clarke, Grocott (Allen, 82), Guy, Smythe, Wood, Kellogg, Graves, Munn, Palmer (Coulson, 82), Ritchie-Smith (Moon, 74), Steadman. Goal: Smythe (pen, 32)

Lynn: Gay, Watson, Gulliver, Lee, Yong, Spriggs (Forshaw, 89), Bunting, Quigley, Hughes, Thurlbourne (Beaumont, 78), Dunkley (Turner, 83). Subs not used: Buhlemann, Fryatt. Goals: Spriggs (19, pen, 35), Watson (61). Booked: Lee, Watson.

Referee: N. Pratt

Attendance: 168