King's Lynn Town 0 Lincoln United 3

King's Lynn Town's League Cup hopes were ended at the first hurdle last night when they were knocked out by Lincoln United.

The EvoStik Division One South side were good value for their victory in front of a disappointing gate of 186 – one of the lowest for a competitive fixture at The Walks since 1986.

Lynn's starting line-up showed nine changes from the one which lost at home to Curzon Ashton on Saturday. In a virtually unrecognisible team from the weekend, goalkeeper Luke Pearson, defender Yann Edimo-Ekoutou and midfielder Kyran Stannard were handed their full first-team debuts.

Jake Jones and Jackson Ramm, both suspended on Saturday, also started while Shaun Stocker, Chris Ward and Jack Frohawk were all drafted in.

Striker Gregg Smith shrugged off a back injury to start and it was the big frontman who almost fired the Linnets in front after 24 seconds when his powerful volley was palmed away by visiting goalkeeper Robert Peet.

The visitors were soon into their stride and duly took the lead with their first opportunity of the evening in the 12th minute.

A clumsy challenge by Stocker on George Asplin saw Lincoln awarded a free-kick on the edge of the box and Daniel Brooks drilled home with authority.

Brooks tested the handling of Pearson from another free-kick while striker Stuart Reddington was a constant thorn in Lynn's side during the first 45 minutes.

Reddington had the ball in the net after 38 minutes, only to be denied by the offside flag, as lower-league Lincoln remained in control.

In a bid to shake things up, Linnets boss Gary Setchell made a triple substitution at the interval with George Thomson, Dan Quigley and Jordan Yong all entering the fray for the restart.

But it had little affect and they were left with a mountain to climb four minutes later when Matthew Cotton added a second for Lincoln after lobbing Pearson from 30 yards.

A third goal arrived on 79 minutes when Reddington's scuffed effort bounced into the path of Asplin who headed home with ease.

King's Lynn Town (4-4-2): Pearson, Stocker, Ward, Edimo-Ekoutou (Yong 46), Eze, Stannard (Quigley 46), Bell, Ramm, Smith, Frohawk (Thomson 46), Jones. Subs: Thomson, Fryatt, Yong, Quigley, Street.

Scorers: None. Bookings: None.

Lincoln (4-4-2): Peet, Lemon, Field, McDaid, Jacklin, Ward, Everington, Brooks, Reddington, Cotton, Asplin, Subs: Frecklington, Wilkinson.

Scorers: Brooks 12, Cotton 49, Asplin 79. Bookings: None.

Referee: Chris Francis (Ely).

Attendance: 186.