Lynn came back with nothing from a snow-filled Leicestershire despite a spirited rally in a real Boxing Day cracker, writes Lewis Cox.

The visitors – who are back in action tomorrow at home to FC United, weather permitting – were three-down inside 20 minutes as Ant Carney helped himself to a Christmas hat-trick. But the hosts were still thankful for Jamie Towers' decider after George Thomson, Gregg Smith and David Bridges had all struck for the Linnets in a frantic affair.

It was much a case of same old for the travelling Lynn. Boss Gary Setchell called for improved starts on the road, but in truth, the visitors seemed to be struggling from a festive hangover.

Despite a positive opening in which Thomson and Ryan Fryatt had efforts fly over within 10 minutes, Barwell opened the scoring through Carney. The forward's finish found Alex Street's near-post via a Henry Eze deflection.

Towers flicked over a gaping net while the Linnets looked for a response, but they only found themselves two down on 15 minutes after Carney finished well from Scott Lower's cross.

Lynn's defensive woes continued as Street was judged to have caught Carney, before he picked himself up to slot home from the penalty spot for a 11-minute treble.

Two minutes later there was something for the bemused Linnets' following to shout about as Thomson latched onto a Bridges ball to finish beyond Liam Castle. The goalscorer and Jake Jones went close but six minutes before the break Setchell's men were further behind as Towers ran onto a high Malcolm Melvin ball, outmuscled Jordan Yong and finished past Street.

The second half threatened a memorable comeback with Smith and Bridges finding the net. But an equaliser didn't arrive to leave Lynn's festive programme getting off to a losing start.