Red-hot playmaker George Thomson kept up his hot streak in front of goal as Lynn bounced back from their FA Cup heartbreak with a narrow home victory tonight.

The Linnets' number 10 netted for the seventh time in just four games – and could even afford to see his second-half penalty saved excellently by the impressive James Martin – to help his side forget their fourth qualifying defeat to AFC Fylde on Saturday.

Thomson struck in the 67th minute to take his tally to the term for 13 following a sweeping move which involved substitutes Sam Mulready and debutant frontman Gregg Smith. The former Nottingham Forest Academy youngster's winner came just four minutes after he had fluffed his lines from the spot. Jackson Ramm had been taken out by Liam Goulding. He was last man and had to be sent off for the basement boys whose miserable record of failing to win on the road continued even after they had been handed a first-half penalty of their own.

Ramm had foolishly scythed down Robert Stevenson out wide in the box just after the half-hour mark to present ex-Boston United stalwart Ian Ross with the chance to extend the Linnets' weekend misery. Yet the woe was eventually his after he made a fool of himself by stalling his run up only to see his free shot from 12 yards hit the upright.

Even though the hosts only edged the game by a solitary goal it was the least they deserved for their efforts on the night just a few days after they missed out on making the first-round proper of the world-famous cup competition. Had it not been for excellent stops from keeper Martin to deny David Bridges, Michael Frew and Thomson – whose first four attempts had been wayward – Lynn's victory would have been far greater.

As it was they had to settle for a 1-0 triumph which boss Gary Setchell would have been more than happy with following the despair seen at the final whistle last time out. And six league games without defeat shows that the Linnets, who ended up playing against nine men after Aaron Cole was sent off in injury time for two bookings inside 30 seconds, are more than capable of maintaining a challenge for a play-off spot.

Lynn (4-4-1-1): Street, Ramm, Watson, Eze, Yong, Spriggs (Stocker, 87), Bridges (Mulready, 66), Quigley, Jones, Thomson, Frew (Smith, 66). Subs not used: Fryatt, Pearson. Booked: Smith. Missed penalty: Thomson (63). Goal: Thomson (67)

Belper (4-3-3): Martin, Jones, Pride, Ross, Goulding, Adams, Garnett (Cole, 73), Warne (Varley, 64), Holden, Cotton, Stevenson. Subs not used: Walker, James, Low. Booked: Stevenson, Cotton, Cole (x2). Sent off: Goulding (62), Cole (90). Missed penalty: Ross (32).

Referee: A. Wilson

Attendance: 461