King's Lynn Town 2, Soham Town 1King's Lynn overcame a difficult test to make it through to the next round of the FA Cup.

A goal by Jack Defty on the stroke of half-time gave Lynn the upper hand, before a disastrous goalkeeping error by Alex Street handed the visitors a lifeline.

But Lynn hit back a minute later through Steve Spriggs – although the margin of victory should have been more comfortable as Lynn – especially new signing Craig Calver – missed a hatful of chances in the closing stages

Victory means Lynn now play Haverhill Rovers, who beat Brantham Athletic 3-2, at home in the first qualifying round on September 17.

Lynn started well, Jordan Yong teeing up Spriggs for a left-footed shot which keeper Daniel Bircham did well to palm away.

But Lynn had a lucky escape when Matthew Robinson had a clear run on goal but scuffed his shot and saw the ball come back off the inside of a post.

Yong did well to concede a corner before Michael Simpson could get on the end of Robinson's flick on five minutes, but Lynn had the first chance two minutes later when Defty headed down Jamie Thurlbourne's long cross from the left and Danny Beaumont somehow prodded the ball the wrong side of the post from three yards out.

It was an escape for Soham, and there was another five minutes later when Spriggs intercepted a loose ball on half way, raced down the flank and out a cross on Defty's head, only for Bircham to keep the effort out, diving low to his right.

Lynn were growing into the game, although they needed an excellent tackle by centre-half Stuart Wall to deny Richard Gammon after the Soham striker picked up a loose ball and headed into the home area – one more touch and it could have been the opener.

Gammon then forced keeper Street down low to collect another shot as Soham began to trouble the home defence.

Former Wisbech winger David Cobb saw a goalbound shot deflected wide and Simpson somehow contrived to work himself a yard of space before blasting over, as Street came under pressure again.

Beaumont was guilty of poking a decent chance wide after Defty had managed to fool the referee with a handball in the area, while Thurlbourne's long cross almost caught out the back-peddling Bircham.

Wall glanced a header wide as Lynn responded well as half-time approached – and were rewarded in the first minute of time added on when Thurlbourne teased two defenders way out on the left and got in an inch-perfect cross that Defty headed down into the corner.

Street was almost beaten early stages of the second half when he missed a corner and Andrew Coleman headed wide.

Danny White almost benefited from a defender's slip but turned and shot straight at the keeper – but disaster struck at the other end when Street collected a back pass, dawdled in his area and, trying to be Lionel Messi with the ball at his feet, just got into a mess – allowing Robinson to dispossess him and walk it into the net, leaving Street laying flat on his back hoping the earth would open up.

Within a minute, Street's blushes were spared as Spriggs poked the ball over the line after Cousins had flicked on a Thulbourne corner.

Spriggs shot just wide from distance moments later as Lynn looked for a killer third.

New boy Calver was introduced for Defty and moments later turned but put a half chance just over before fellow sub Robbie Harris slipped a shot inches wide of the far post.

Spriggs forced Bircham into another diving save, but with 10 minutes to go it should have been game over as chance after chance came Lynn's way.

Cobb tested Street at his near post, but it was comfortable for the keeper, while Calver had two other gilt-edged chance to mark his debut with a goal but both time made a mess of lovely work by Thurlbourne.

Street almost paid for another rush of blood when he came out to clear but failed - but Scott Carter's long-range lob was cleared.

Luke Hipwell's cross came off Street's bar as the keeper appeared to leave it – and it was a nervous few closing minutes for Lynn.

King's Lynn: Street, L Thurlbourne, Yong, Cousins (Fryatt 84), Wall, White, Spriggs, Bexfield, Defty (Calver 73), Beaumont (Harris 69), J Thurlbourne. Sub not used: Hails.

Goal: Defty 45, Spriggs 65.

Bookings: Beaumont, 61, dissent; Calver, 90, time wasting.

Soham Town: Bircham, Hipwell, Austin, Coleman, Liberatore, Simpson, McGeorge, Carter, Robinson (Furnerll 73), Gammon (Bugg 62), Cobb. Sub not used: Flanz, Turner.

Goal: Robinson 64.

Bookings: Robinson 69 dissent; Coleman, 90, dissent.

Att: 853