But boss Billy Smith will take consolation from the fact that his side put up dogged resistance and might have come home with all three points had it not been for some wayward finishing.

Their best effort of a scrappy first half came when defenders John Ugbah and Andy Taylor both saw close-range headers go inches wide.

Francis Vines was guilty of missing a golden opportunity soon after the break when he eluded his marker but saw his header drift off target.

Lynn player-manager Gary Mills cleared off the line after Rod McAree's shot had beaten a packed penalty area and Tony Spearing did the same from Byron Glasgow's effort. But Lynn struck the winner when David Puttnam's accurate cross found Mark Turner who blasted the ball home.

Crawley pushed for an equaliser and Vines saw a header go wide.

St Leonards continued their improved run of form in the Eastern Division with a well deserved 2-1 win over Tonbridge Angels at the Firs.

Manager Andy Thomson was delighted with the way his team battled to victory over the top-ten Kent outfit.

"I was made up with the performance, it was a tremendous effort and we are now starting to turn it around," he said. "We are a different side to what we were earlier in the season."

Saints opened the scoring with an own goal after 27 minutes. A hanging cross was only half- cleared and Carleton Chatelier's header took a wicked deflection off the heel of the unfortunate Nick Humphrey. Substitute Peter Baker extended the lead on 72 minutes when he raced onto a long ball, drew the keeper and slotted home from an acute angle. Tonbridge rarely threatened and a late consolation from Clint Gooding was just about all they deserved.

Hastings produced a superb fightback at struggling Fleet, coming from 2-0 down to win 3-2.

Paul Jones pulled one back after 63 minutes, player-coach Terry White equalised three minutes later and Duncan Jones struck the winner with nine minutes left as Town maintained their pursuit of the leaders.

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