Goal-shy Lynn failed to find the net for the second home match in a row as they played out a drab draw at The Walks.

A dire first half was followed by an improved offering after the interval as the Linnets looked to build on a fine 1-0 win at Cirencester. Yet they couldn't covert any of their chances and had to make do with a point against a resolute Paulton side who are still hunting their first win of the campaign.

Toby Hilliard did see a goal disallowed for offside and provided the real bright spark of an, at times, lacklustre showing which leaves Town heading to Kettering on Monday having scored just twice in six matches.

The hosts were almost awoken from their slow start when Michael Clunan sparked serious penalty fears by fouling David O'Hare. Much to the dismay of the visiting players, referee Sean Feerick ruled the offence had taken place on the edge of the area rather than inside it. The free-kick came to nothing, although keeper Alex Street did his best to make a meal of gathering the ball.

Another O'Hare burst came to nothing when his shot failed to lack the conviction of his powerful run. His excellent start to proceedings continued when he headed a dangerous Liam Hurst centre clear.

Frontman Jake Speight saw little service early on but started to find some joy in behind left-back Aaron Brown. He bundled his way to the byline and earned a corner which Kern Miller headed over. The lone striker got in a similar position minutes later yet could only trickle his cross into goalie Ben John's grateful hands.

Rovers defender Craig Allan tried to force the issue as the stalemate continued by striding into an advanced position and letting fly. While he caught it well, the shot flew straight into Alex Street's midriff.

On the half-hour, the best opportunity of the match fell to Sam Mulready as Liam Hurst moved the play from right to left. A block from full-back Pierce Mitchell helped lift the ball behind for a corner. From another set piece, Miller failed to hit the target with a free header.

At the other end, the closest Richard Fey's side came to opening the scoring was when Dominic Thomas, at the second time of asking, lashed a shot just wide.

Gary Setchell made a double change at the interval in a desperate ploy to live things up. Jacek Zielonka and Hilliard replaced Mulready and Hurst.

One of the introductions, Zielonka, earned a free-kick which Michael Clunan saw blocked. Speight lifted the rebound over. A Jackson Ramm cross was headed off target by Lee Stevenson as the home side tried to up the ante.

A switch to 4-4-2 got the impressive Hilliard into a central position and it almost paid off when he was set free by Clunan's defence-splitting pass. Even though the former Dereham Town hitman found the net, he had strayed marginally offside during the build-up and the goal was chalked off.

Hilliard was in the thick of things again when he flicked a header through to his strike partner Speight. John rushed off his line quickly to save with his legs.

With neither side looking like scoring, Darren Mullings pulled the trigger from distance. In keeping with the game, it drifted harmlessly wide.

Even an injury-time opening for Zielonka failed to end the misery as the Pole screwed wide while stretching to divert Speight's miscued goal-bound effort inside the six-yard box.

Lynn (4-2-3-1): Street, Ramm, Miller, R Fryatt, Yong, Marshall (Bridges, 67), Clunan, Hurst (Hilliard, 46), Stevenson, Mulready (Zielonka, 46), Speight. Subs not used: Watson, Gaughran. Booked: Clunan, R Fryatt, Hilliard. Goal: None

Paulton (4-2-3-1): John, Mitchell, A Brown, Anson, Allan, Thomas, Mullings, O'Hare (Grimshaw 90+1), Morgan-Williams (Rudge, 82), Bament (C Brown, 75), Ricketts. Subs not used: Knighton, Fey. Booked: Mitchell. Goal: None

Referee: S Feerick

Attendance: 487