The Linnets maintained their excellent away record at Tiverton and gained revenge for last season's defeat when they had two of their players sent off in a bad-tempered affair.

The Linnets maintained their excellent away record at Tiverton and gained revenge for last season's defeat when they had two of their players sent off in a bad-tempered affair.

The Linnets' Greg Lake took the number three shirt with Adam Smith moving to the number 11 spot in place of virus-victim Joe Francis who missed his first game of the campaign.

Up front Keith Webb opted to start with Matt Nolan and John Turner while Jack Defty came into the squad on the bench. Rob Murray was named as substitute keeper. Still out were injury victims Ben Chapman and Greg Crane.

A cross from the home side's full-back Luke Clark was headed over the crossbar by the big “Tivvy” No 10 Carl Cliff-Brown.

He then beat Warren in the air to again give Clark the chance to cross but this time Mark Camm did well to head clear for the Linnets.

Nolan won a free-kick but Melton's kick to the near post was easily blocked as Lynn slowly began to get into the game. Turner beat two men turning on a sixpence but unfortunately his final ball lacked direction.

Lynn then out together some patient build-up before Adam Smith tried a left foot shot which curled just wide. The no-nonsense Tivvy defenders were allowing the Lynn forwards no time to settle on the ball. For Tivvy Cliff-Brown won a duel on the line to put Wyatt in with a good chance but Charlie Defty covered well to thwart the danger-man.

As the ball came out Cliff-Brown ,with a header, forced a good save from Lynn keeper Howie.

After a heading duel won by Camm, Frew broke away only to be pulled up by an offside flag. Nolan was then fouled by Tom Gardiner and from a trademark Adam Smith free-kick Johnston beat the ball away but Camm was wide with the follow-up shot. A quick throw from Nolan to Lake, who gave the striker a quick return ball, saw Turner only just fail to reach Nolan's low cross as Johnston fell on the ball.

For Tiverton Cliff-Brown again won a knock-down from which he himself fired a speculative drive just wide. Next it was Nolan's turn to speculate from distance but again the effort was wide.

Nolan became the first name in referee Grenfeld's notebook when he was cautioned for a foul on Villis after 35 minutes. After Turner was fouled by Rudge, Smith delivered another teasing free-kick, which with a better connection from the Lynn centre-forward would surely have found the net as Johnston scrambled the ball away.

Lynn were now more into the game as they at last began to keep the ball on the floor and on 38 minutes a superb through ball from Steven Melton allowed John Turner to race through and plant a 20-yard shot into the Tivvy net with Johnston helpless.

Cliff-Brown become the second player to be cautioned following a foul on Greg Lake. Just before the interval home appeals for a penalty were turned down as Wyatt stumbled in the box when tackled by Camm but only a corner was given.

Neither sided made a change at the interval and the early second half action saw Michael Frew breaking down the right for Lynn but his shot on the run passed wide of the far post. The third player in referee Grenfeld's notebook was Tiverton No .11 Will Gardiner, again for a foul.

Warren, for Lynn, made a timely headed clearance as Cliff-Brown fed Clark who again played in a dangerous cross. A long punt downfield by Howie allowed Nolan to get behind the home defence but yet again the shot was off-target. Charlie Defty had to be alert as Wyatt broke quickly down the left for the home side but the Lynn centre-back was well up to the task.

After Adam smith had been penalised for foot-up Cliff-Brown had a shot which went too close for comfort for visiting supporters as Howie scrambled across his goal.

On 65 minutes Lynn made their first substitution with Jack Defty replacing Matt Nolan. Camm then needed treatment for a knock. West was penalised for hand ball but Cliff-Brown's shot was easily gathered by Howie. From another free-kick the ball was played to and fro across the face of the Lynn goal until a throughball from Tom Gardiner saw home skipper Rudge head goalwards to bring a fine save from Howie.

Jack Defty replied for Lynn with a 20-yard drive into Johnston's midriff and then was tackled as he attempted a cross from the right. Melton found Defty who forced a corner on the Lynn left but it came to nothing. On 70 minutes Lynn replaced Turner with Bloomfield while five minutes later Tiverton made a double substitution.

Tiverton forced a corner but Warren rose highest to clear with a powerful header. The home side then sent up centre-half and skipper Nathan Rudge in an endeavour to find an equaliser. In the aerial battle that followed Charlie Defty needed lengthy treatment from phsyio Steph Jones but was able to resume. Tivvy pressed hard for the equaliser. But the Lynn defence was equal to all that was thrown at them. From a free kick awarded against West Tiverton's final effort saw Cliff-Brown shoot high over the crossbar. Lynn held on for a well deserved 1-0 victory.

t Tiverton: Johnson, Clarke, Vinnecombe, Villis, Rudge, T Gardner, Martin, Palmer, Wyatt, Cliff-Brown, W Gardner. Subs: Young, Irish, Lamacraft, Gould, Wake.

t King's Lynn: Howie, West, Lake, Warren, C Defty, Camm, Frew, Melton, Turner, Nolan, Smith. Subs: Bloomfield, J Defty, Fisk, Spriggs, Murray.

t Referee: P Grenfell, Penzance.

t Attendance: 373.