King's Lynn 0, Merthyr Tydfil 0Bullish King's Lynn manager Tommy Taylor delivered a goals pledge after the British Gas Business Southern League, Premier Division leaders were held at The Walks.

King's Lynn 0, Merthyr Tydfil 0

Bullish King's Lynn manager Tommy Taylor delivered a goals pledge after the British Gas Business Southern League, Premier Division leaders were held at The Walks. Lynn's pretty passing patterns failed to unpick the well-drilled Welsh visitors in an intriguing top-table clash. Taylor's men lacked a knock-out punch in a one-sided opening period before Merthyr capitalised on a strangely lethargic second stanza from the hosts. “We'll play worse than that this season and win,” said Taylor.

“The game was there for the taking, so I'm disappointed to drop two points. We've got a bit of work to do in training this week, but I still feel this squad has goals in it. Just because we put six past Cirencester doesn't mean it will happen every week.

“Merthyr are no mugs. The two up front were a handful, but we kept a clean sheet and we're another point better off.”

Taylor blooded Alex Notman and the former Canary showed glimpses of his pedigree in a 70-minute run-out on the left of midfield.

“Alex said he was ready to play so I had no fears about starting him,” said Taylor. “He showed what's he got when he was on the ball. I think there's the makings of a great understanding with Adam Smith.

“He'll be better for getting the first one out of the way, but I want him to push on now. He needs to go and get himself in the game rather than waiting for the ball. At this level he can't sit and wait for things to happen.”

Taylor promised finishing practice tops the agenda during this week's FA Cup build-up.

“We just didn't work the keeper enough or commit bodies into the box,” he said. “To have so much possession first half and nothing to show for it was frustrating.”

Notman replaced broken leg victim Shaun Carey in the one change to the Corby starting line-up.

Jack Defty's glancing near post header was clubbed clear by Gareth Wharton in an early Lynn attack.

Defty's cute turn and cut-back teed up a simple slot for striker partner Nolan, but his mishit bought Merthyr stopper Ashley Morris precious time to grasp the ball.

Wharton headed over on a rare foray into the Lynn box, before a Smith strike was deflected behind.

Notman's superb vision crafted a inch-perfect pass for the on-running Matt O'Halloran, but the former Boston United wideman failed to test Morris.

Nolan's trickery triggered another sublime passing move - Sam McMahon switching the play to overlapping full back Dean West only for Notman to miskick from 16 yards.

Morris pouched Defty's header underneath his own bar as the torrent turned into a flood of chances.

The bustling frontman dragged a right footer straight at Morris from the edge of the box after Nolan had pounced on Neil Smothers error.

Steve Williams bailed out his keeper on the restart - miraculously heading Smith's stunning goal bound free kick clear with Morris beaten.

Merthyr seemed to take heart as the storm blew itself out - Shaun Marshall finally pressed into action, parrying Craig Steins snapshot then grabbing Gary Shephard's near post header.

Smith's ambitious 25-yarder almost embarrassed Morris, the Merthyr keeper fumbling the bouncing effort behind for a corner.

McMahon's misplaced pass sprung a Merthyr counter-attack, but Paul Keddle spared his blushes with a rash strike.

Morris foiled Nolan in the closing stages from close range after the skilful striker expertly controlled Mark Warren's back-post header.