Lynn 4   Merthyr Tydfil 2

LINNETS notched their first home win of the season and the goals that have promised to come finally arrived thanks, to braces from, top scorer Dave Puttnam and Dave Taylor.
In 80 degree-plus temperatures they made hard work of seeing off a poor Merthyr side who were down to 10 men in the later stages.
"The performance was OK, but it was probably one of our worst performances and we got four goals," said boss Gary Mills. "It was very hot and we had the added pressure of needing to win.
"Dave Taylor got through his first 90 minutes. It would always take time as he missed the pre-season with injury, while Dave Puttnam does what he does best. The first goal showed what he's about."
Linnets swarmed over the Martyrs from the start and in the 10th minute Jeremy Goss went up for a free-kick in the box and the ball squirmed out to Puttnam on the left. He hooked it back from the by-line for Taylor to plant a close-range header firmly in the roof of the net.
Taylor and Puttnam went close, the latter's shot being scrambled for a corner by keeper Neil Thornas. Lee Wilson's effort blasted into Eston Chiverton's hand but referee Cox turned down handball appeals.

On the half-hour Puttnam notched a super second goal, ghosting past a foul and two more defenders coolly slotting past Thomas.
Linnets continued their habit of conceding when well-set. Mark Williams fed Cohen Griffith, who went past Dakin to set up Tom Ramasut with a neat finish. Williams should have levelled before the break but shot wide.
The turning point of the match came when Chuck Martini made a vital reflex save with his legs from sub Craig Evans.
Then Dave Robinson's long-ball found Taylor, who flicked on to Puttnarn who used a defensive mix-up to nip in and score his fourth of the season off the far post.
Linnets made it safe as a Goss corner was headed goalwards by Robinson and turned in by Taylor for his third strike of the season. Puttnam and Merthyr's Griffith went close before Ian Mitchell stole in on the right to notch. h late consolation.'
Williams was sent off for a second bookable offence after an off-the-ball incident with Shaun Keeble.

Lynn: Martini, Dakin (Keeble 75), Spearing, Robinson, Clark, Goss, Turner, Marsden (Mills 64), Taylor, Wilosn (McGinty 60), Puttnam.
Merthyr: Thomas, Fleming, Power, Needs, Abraham (Evans 25), Williams, Price (Mitchell 70), Griffith, Chiverton, Shephard (Farrell 77), Ramasut.

MATCH
STATISTICS
Shots on
Target
Shots off
Target
CornersCaught
Offside
Free kicks
Conceded
Bookings/S-Off
Lynn545110  
Merthyr568015 Needs (3 foul)
Chiverton (16 foul)
Williams (flare-up 65)
Williams (flare-up 87)
Lynn News Man of the Match - Dave Puttnam
Report by permission of the Lynn News