Banbury United saw an early lead disappear as they slipped to a 3-1 defeat at leaders King's Lynn in the British Gas Business Southern League Premier Division.

The Puritans stunned a bumper 1,174 crowd by opening the scoring in the sixth minute.

Scott Bridges jinked into the area along the bye-line, cleverly going past Ben Sedgemore, and tricking him into a trip which produced a penalty.

Ady Fuller stepped up to blast the spot-kick home and give Banbury an unlikely lead.

King's Lynn's prolific striker, Jack Defty, who has so often been a thorn in Banbury's side, then saw his header cannon against the bar in the 25th minute.

However, Defty wasn't to be denied and two minutes later, he chested down Michael Frew's cross before hammering home from eight yards.

A minute later, the Linnets took the lead when United lost the ball in midfield.

Defty played the ball forward to Danny Bloomfield, who bore down the right before driving a shot across the face of Andy Wheeler and into the far corner.

Andy Baird had two efforts blocked for Banbury before King's Lynn went further ahead in the 39th minute, Joe Francis coolly rolling the ball home from a narrow angle.

Banbury lost Wayne Blossom ten minutes into the second half with a head injury as a result of an unpunished flailing arm, and Matt Murphy came on for his first outing since November.

Banbury kept battling, and Troy Bryan and Ollie Stanbridge both went close with deflected efforts.

Banbury Utd: Wheeler, Feely (Bryan 81), Kinch, Essex, Baird, Fuller, Stuart Bridges, Blossom (Murphy 55), Sc Bridges (Gooderick 46), Gordon, Stanbridge. Subs not used: Sambrook, McKay.

Attendance: 1,174.