King's Lynn Town paid the price for playing Rob Hughes while he was suspended after dropping two valuable points at Boston Town tonight.

Title-chasing Lynn, who triumphed 1-0 at Tattershall Road in October, had hoped to regain the three points they won after the United Counties League forced them to replay the game for fielding Hughes.

But on a bad night for Gary Setchell's side, they could only draw 1-1 against a Poachers outfit who played with 10 men for 20 minutes, while rivals Long Buckby beat Yaxley 3-0.

It could have been even worse for the Linnets who went behind in the 74th minute when Jammal Shahin put the hosts in front but substitute Danny Beaumont equalised. Despite late pressure Lynn couldn't grab a vital winner and now find themselves just seven points ahead of Buckby - who will go two points ahead if they win their games in hand.

Midfielder Rob Hughes was handed a starting role as he looked to draw a line under suspension saga.

Centre-back Stuart Wall – who was expected to return to Lynn's line-up after being an unused substitute on Saturday – was on the bench after getting stuck in traffic on the way to the game.

Ryan Fryatt therefore kept his place at the heart of the Linnets defence alongside Ross Watson while Danny White replaced Danny Beaumont on the right-hand side of midfield.

Lynn had won the original fixture 1-0, thanks to a late Jack Defty goal, and you could sense it was going to be another close encounter as both sides struggled to gain supremacy in the opening exchanges.

Jamie Thurlbourne went close inside a minute with a vicious free-kick while the Poachers nearly scored from a set-piece of their own when an in-swinging delivery was headed just over by Gary Bull in a crowded penalty area.

But despite all the endeavour on show title-chasing Lynn, nor their mid-table counterparts, could get a stranglehold of a fast-paced game.

The host's captain Michael Wood went close with a brave header before wing-wizard Thurlbourne forced Boston shot-stopper Chris Wright into two good saves.

With both teams defending resolutely it was no surprise the score was 0-0 at half-time even if the Linnets dominance had grown as the half wore on.

Lynn flooded forward at the start of the second half with Defty having a shot cleared off the line before Craig Parker was sent off with 20 minutes to go for his second booking.

With chances few and far between, and after surviving two strong penalty appeals, Boston stunned Lynn – who went close through White's fine volley - by grabbing a breakaway goal courtesy of Shahin, who fired home from a tight angle following some trickery near the touchline.

Beaumont equalised with a fine half volley after latching on to Defty's flick-on and Lynn – who pressed for a winner – thought they had got it in the dying minutes when Fryatt rose gloriously to head home, only to see his effort saved outstandingly by Wright.

• King's Lynn: Street, Deeney (Harris, 75), Wall, Fryatt, Yong, White, L.Thurlbourne, Hughes (Spriggs, 65), J.Thurlbourne, Defty and Turner (Beaumont, 65)

Subs not used: Hails and Wall

• Booked: Watson and L.Thurlbourne

• Goal: Beaumont (80)

• Boston Town: Wright, Lambley, Parker, Brooks, Wood, Smith, Kirton, Borbely, Bull (Brown, 83), Shahin and Foster

Subs not used: Harper, Clancy, Jones and Stocks

• Booked: Foster, Parker (x2)

• Sent off: Parker

• Goal: Shahin (74)

• Referee: J. Thorold

• Attendance: 250