King's Lynn Town's poor start to the new Southern League season continued as they suffered their third defeat in four matches.

Goals from Jonny McNamara and substitute Robbie Burns handed Hitchin their first win of the campaign and it would have been more emphatic had it not been for the heroics of Linnets goalkeeper Alex Street. He made a string of fine stops, including an early penalty stop, to thwart the on-song Canaries on a number of occasions.

The Linnets made three changes from the side which lost at home to Bideford on Saturday.

One was enforced with Ryan Fryatt replacing the injured Jordan Yong at left-back, while David Bridges was brought in at the expense of Liam Hurst and Ross Watson replaced Jackson Ramm at right-back.

Hitchin's first attack of the game led to them being awarded a penalty in the 12th minute. Jonny McNamara exchanged passes with Simon Martin before being brought down in the box by Street, who appeared to get some of his hand to the ball.

Justice was done a few seconds later though when Street kept out Lewis Rolfe's spot-kick with a brilliant save down to his right.

Callum Donnelly blazed over the woodwork a few minutes later as the Canaries began to find their feet.

Lynn responded with a quick counter of their own and, after being fouled on the edge of the box, Michael Clunan picked himself to curl a free-kick just wide of the target.

The hosts took the lead midway through the first half when the tricky McNamara placed his shot under the body of Street after dispossessing Sam Gaughran on the edge of the box.

As the half draw to a close, Lynn were indebted to Street for two excellent saves.

He denied Martin with his feet before using the same part of his anatomy to foil the tricky McNamara a few seconds later.

Lynn began the second period as they had started the first, forcing the Canaries back.

Bridges saw his stinging shot brilliantly kept out by Charlie Horlock while Lee Stevenson fired a free-kick over the woodwork. But for all of their pretty football, Lynn lacked penetration in the final third.

A last-gasp tackle by Ramm, Lynn's third substitute, denied McNamara a certain second but the home faithful didn't have to wait much longer when Burns pounced on some shabby Lynn defending to double Hitchin's advantage in the 74th minute.

Hitchin Town: Horlock, Smith, Bickerstaff, Ann, Webb, Pearson, McNamara, Donnelly, Martin (Burns, 46), Rolfe, Kirkpatrick. Goals: McNamara (24), Burns (74).

King's Lynn Town: Street, Watson (Ramm, 65), R. Fryatt, Miller, Gaughran, Marshall, Clunan, Bridges (Hurst, 60), Speight, Stevenson, Mulready (Zielonka, 60). Booked: Ramm.

Referee: Mr W Finnie.

Attendance: 351