The Linnets rounded off their pre-season programme with a morale-boosting victory against same-level Lowestoft.

Gary Setchell's hosts had been beaten comfortably in midweek by Boston United but were impressive against the Blues despite missing key trio Alex Street, John Sands and Leon Mettam.

A poacher's finish from Dylan Edge put the Southern League Premier Division promotion hopefuls on their way in the 11th minute before the teenage talent turned provider to create a chance Toby Hilliard gobbled up after the break.

It was a positive end to their summer friendlies ahead of next weekend's league opener at home to Merthyr Town while Lowestoft have another friendly on August 6, at home to Cray Wanderers, to get things right before things get serious.

Early creativity from the Linnets' Liam Fryatt and the visitors' Ryan Jarvis just failed to pay off as both sides found their feet in the summer sunshine.

Jarvis soon found his as he ghosted past Ryan Fryatt far too easily on the left-hand side and picked out Chris Henderson at the far post. The Blues' wideman headed wide under minimal pressure after the ball had evaded Jordan Yong.

The Lynn left-back soon made ammends when his delivery created an inviting opportunity that any one of four team-mates could have taken up. As it was, the centre was headed back across goal by Liam Fryatt and while Lee Stevenson thought he had opened the scoring it was another man further down the queue, Edge, who got the finishing touch.

The Trawlerboys responded with a sweeping move that saw Rossi Jarvis, Jake Reed and Henderson rip through the heart of the Lynn backline only for the latter to be denied excellently by keeper Luke Pearson's legs.

The home shot-stopper was eventually beaten by Reed – who had been picked out by Henderson's sensational slide-rule pass – but the former Dagenham & Redbridge hitman's effort was disallowed for offside.

Tempers started to simmer with Stevenson, Yong and Michael Spillane leaving late challenges on Andrew Fisk, Harry Barker and Jacek Zielonka respectively. The inevitable happened when a bout of handbags between Stevenson and Rossi Jarvis saw things boil over – largely thanks to Rory McAuley's needless decision to start throwing his weight around. The late arrival to the handbags picked up a deserved booking.

The flashpoint was quickly dealt with and things cooled down with only McAuley and Edge threatening to raise temperatures with goal-bound efforts that flew just wide.

Despite being behind, it was Lynn – not Lowestoft – who made the most of the early second-half running. Hilliard tried his luck for the second time in the match, to no avail, while Edge dragged wide from the angle.

The pair didn't have to wait long to be celebrating again though after producing a delightful piece of intricate play to double Lynn's advantage.

Hilliard burst forward, completed a clever one-two with Edge and kept his cool to slot home and lap up an appreciative round of applause from the crowd. It was a great piece of work from two highly thought of youngsters.

Lowestoft should have pulled a goal back with 15 minutes left to play when Reed spread the attack out to Ryan Jarvis. However, the former Norwich City man got his angles all wrong and screwed his shot just wide as he fired across the goal.

Outstanding blocks from centre-back Sam Gaughran – a former Trawlerboy – to deny Joel Glover and another cracking save from the impressive Pearson, to thwart Reed, ensured that the Ryman League Blues failed to nab a consolation in the closing stages.

Lynn: Pearson, R Fryatt (A Clunan, 65), Castellan (Mills, 69), Gaughran, Yong, L Fryatt (Shipp, 81), M Clunan, Stevenson (Quigley, 65), Zielonka (Frohawk 76), Edge (D Setchell, 81), Hilliard. Goals: Edge (11), Hilliard (63)

Lowestoft: Jessup (Josh Glover, 62), Barker, Spillane, McAuley, Smith (Marsden, 75), Henderson (Blake-Tracy, 62), Rossi Jarvis (Deeks, 56), Fisk, Ryan Jarvis, Forshaw (Joel Glover, 77), Ryan Jarvis. Subs not used: Crown, Solomon. Booked: McAuley

Referee: J Turner

Attendance: 356

A gallery of Matthew Usher's pictures from today's game will be added to this report soon.