There will be no glorious cup run for King's Lynn Town this season, as for the second time in little over a month, they were removed from an FA competition by cross county neighbours Cambridge City at The Walks on Saturday.

The first game, in the FA Cup, was a rout, but this second encounter, in the Trophy, was a much closer contest and had a makeshift Linnets taken their chances in a 30-minute first half purple patch the result could, and should, have been so different.

George Thomson gave the home side the lead, but two goals, the second described by Linnets boss Gary Setchell as a wonder strike, by Adam Marriott sealed Town's fate.

Lynn, unable to call upon the services of influential duo Gary Mills and Jake Jones (both on loan to the club) and the injured Rob Duffy and Sam Mulready had midfielder Dan Quigley in attack which allowed Thomson to revert to a more familiar position in the middle of the park. Youngster Shaun Stocker took a seat on the bench along with central defender Stuart Wall for the first time this season.

Dan Jacob nodded wide and former Linnet and local man Chris Bacon blazed over when clean through on 10 minutes. The home side began to take control of proceedings and it came as no surprise when they took the lead midway through the half as Thomson drilled the ball past keeper Zac Barrett from 20 yards after his first shot had been blocked by a covering defender.

The goal saw a surge of confidence go through the Lynn team as they then enjoyed all of the possession creating chances freely. Stephen Spriggs cut in from the right following Andy Hall's pass but drilled wide. Thomson dragged another effort just wide of goal and Spriggs fizzed over as the Linnets continued to look for a second.

Bacon limped off for City and was replaced by Nick Beasant as Quigley fired over from range for Town and Hall fired wide following a glorious passage of home inter play on the edge of the visitors box. Play switched to the other end as Josh Dawkin worked Alex Street for the first time with the home custodian gathering safely but, on 43 minutes he was helpless as Lynn's defence and keeper made a mess of clearing a deep centre into their box with the ball falling kindly to Marriott three yards from an unguarded net and the in-form striker was never going to miss the target to square things up just before the interval.

That was cruel on the Linnets, but to their credit they began the second half with efforts from Quigley and Ryan Clarke which failed to really test Barrett. Then, a moment of pure genius saw what turned out to be the winning goal of the match from Marriott. There looked little danger as the City number nine collected the ball on the near touchline but in an instant he had spotted that Street had strayed far enough from his line to attempt an audacious lob from fully 35 yards which saw the ball drop inches under the bar and into the net for a goal so similar to the one scored by a certain David Beckham at Selhurst Park all those years ago.

To their credit Lynn rolled up their sleeves as they sought an equaliser. Quigley, who put in a great shift up top, found space behind his marker to drift a header wide and Thomson should have done much better from the edge of the box. Captain Richard Bunting, busy in midfield, fired wide as the game became stretched as the home side's search for an equaliser became more urgent. Cambridge substitute Luke Allen attempted to replicate Marriott's second goal but his effort ended wide and the latter proved he is human after all as he spurned two good chances to claim the match ball, grazing either post of Street's goal on both occasions.

Linnets sub Ewan Clarke had a half-hearted penalty shout turned away late on by the referee David Avent. Moments later the final whistle sounded to bring down the curtain down on Lynn's cup campaigns for the season, leaving them to concentrate on league matters over the winter months ahead.

King's Lynn Town: Street, Ryan Clarke, Yong, Lee, Fryatt, Bunting (Butt 75), Spriggs, Thomson, Quigley (Stocker 78), Hall, Jacob Ewan Clarke 65)

Subs not used: Wall, Stewart. Goal: Thomson 21. Bookings: Ryan Clarke, Fryatt, Thomson

Cambridge City: Barrett, Ramm, Brighton, Lawton, Chaffey, Farrell (Prada 70), Lewis, Beech, Marriott, Bacon (Beasant 32) Dawkin (Allen 70). Sub not used: Abbs. Goals: Marriott 43, 49. Booking: Chaffey

Referee: David Avent (Northampton)

Att: 605