Former Linnet Joe Francis scored a second-half winner as Lowestoft Town beat King's Lynn Town at The Walks this afternoon.

The wideman's finish from an acute angle in the 72nd minute ensured higher-level Lowestoft picked up a victory as both sides enjoyed a high-tempo workout.

There was a familiar feel around The Walks with six former Lynn players staring in the Trawlerboys line-up. Andrew Frisk, Scott Mitchell, Michael Frew and Francis - who played for the Linnets before the club was wound up in the High Court in 2009 - all returned.

But it was the presence of Linnets legend, striker Jack Defty, and defender Sam Gaughran which created the most interest. Popular frontman Defty was released by Lynn boss Gary Setchell during the summer while Gaughran returned to the club he joined less than two months ago - before leaving to rejoin Lowestoft - without kicking a ball in a Linnets shirt.

Lynn's Jamie Forshaw came up against his former side and looked lively in the opening exchanges which were bereft of any decent chances.

The visitors' Chris Henderson pulled a decent effort just wide on the turn before Lowestoft did find the net. However, Defty's moment of redemption was ruled out with the target man being judged to have strayed offside before turning Francis' mis-hit shot home.

Frew rattled a post with a long-range drive as Step Three Lowestoft's supremacy grew and it was Craig Fleming's charges who went closest again before the break when Henderson forced Alex Street into a fine save at his near post.

Step Four Lynn were sloppy in the early part of the second period with first Defty, and then Henderson again, forcing fine saves from Street.

But those chances seemed to reinvigorate Setchell's side who clawed their way back into the game and should have equalised through Danny Beaumont. However, the ex-Dereham starlet blazed horribly wide from inside the box following a good run and cross from Forshaw.

It was left to Francis to grab the headlines as he poked the ball home from close range in the 72nd minute while Lynn debated a decision involving Ryan Fryatt.

It could have been a 2-0 win for the Ryman Premier Division outfit but Nathan Stone missed an absolute sitter in the dying minutes as he spooned over when presented with an open net after rounding Street.

• King's Lynn: Street, Watson, Gulliver, Fryatt, Jong, Spriggs, Bunting, Quigley, Thurlbourne, Forshaw, Turner

• Subs used: Dunkley, Beaumont, Buhlemann, Biles

• Subs not used: McLeish, Livoti, Sarycevas

• Booked: Yong

• Lowestoft: Jessop, Gleeson, Gaughran, Mitchell, Eagle, Frew, Cockrill, Frisk, Francis, Defty, Henderson

• Subs used: Stone, Saker, Ainsley, Gomes, Alves

• Goal: Francis (72)

• Attendance: 416

• Referee: M. McIntyre