King's Lynn held league leaders Poole Town to a 1-1 draw at Tatnam, having taken a first-half lead.

Sam Mulready headed in from a Michael Clunan free-kick before Dolphins substitute Richard Gillespie equalised with practically his first touch of the match.

But it could have ended in defeat for Lynn if not for goalkeeper Alex Street making some fine saves in the final 10 minutes, with Steve Devlin also smashing the crossbar for the hosts in the 84th minute.

The Linnets named an unchanged starting XI from their 2-0 win over Chesham, with Lee Smith and Jack Friend coming onto the bench.

Poole started the better side and, in the fifth minute, Devlin tested Street with a free-kick when Luke Burbidge was fouled.

Lynn soon took control of the match though with Lee Stevenson turning his marker before shooting wide. Matthew Castellan also headed straight towards Nick Hutchings after a bit of ping-ball in the box after 26 minutes and five minutes later the visitors took the lead in somewhat controversial circumstances.

Michael Walker was penalised for handball, despite his protests that it hit the Lynn man marking him, and Clunan whipped a superb free-kick in from the edge of the box and found Mulready, who powered the ball home.

It could have been a two-goal lead going into the break too, but Mulready missed an open goal when his shot went over.

However, it would be Poole who had the better of the second half. Lee Wort was played through but, once again, found Street in his way.

The hosts could not find a way past Street, until the 78th minute, when Gillespie took advantage of a mistake in the defence and slotted home to level the match.

The momentum was with the Dolphins after the goal and they nearly made it count when Devlin unleashed a shot that powered onto the crossbar. It would prove to be the last moment of goal action and, despite the efforts of both sides, the match ended level.

The draw leaves the Linnets four points adrift of the play-off places, with games in hand.

Poole: Hutchings, Tallack, Spetch (Roberts 62) Walker, Whisken, Pettefer, Burbidge, Devlin, Wort, Brooks, Dickson (Gillespie 75). Unused: Rees, Connell, Davis. Booked: Devlin, Walker, Dickson, Burbidge. Goal: Gillespie (78)

Lynn: Street, L Fryatt, Yong, Miller, Castellan, Bridges, Clunan, Hurst, Zielonka (Gaughran 57), Stevenson ( Smith 80), Mulready (Edge 67). Booked: Clunan. Goal: Mulready (32)

Referee: Martin Underhay

Attendance: 355