AL HEADS KS HOME AS SWANS ARE SUNK
ALAN INNS’ towering header proved decisive as Kingstonian kept their outside play-off aspirations alive while denting Staines’ equally modest hopes of a top five finish.
The Ks skipper rounded off a fine first-half display from the hosts. And his goal proved the winner after the Swans upped their game after the break.
Indeed, Staines had the late momentum. But Ks held on thanks to stirring individual displays all over the pitch.
Both managers felt their team deserved the win, a testament to both teams, who belied their midtable status to produce an unlikely classic.
Inevitably, neither boss was as happy with the fare as any neutral spectators present. Ks boss Tommy Williams told
The NLP: “We made hard work of it in the second half.
“We didn’t move the ball as quickly as we did in the first half And while I thought we were worth the win, we were too open for my liking.”
However, he added: “It was a welcome three points at home. We are keen to improve our home record and that’s two home wins on the bounce after Boxing Day.”
Swans supremo Johnson Hippolyte knew where Staines’ problems lay.
He said: “We’ve conceded in the third, fourth, seventh and the fifth minute this season. We are the league’s third-top scorers but our problems are at the other end.
“We played really well overall. But we knew their centre-backs would be strong from setpieces and we didn’t deal with them.”
Ks went ahead when Youssef Bamba found Sean Bonnett-Johnson, who swept the ball right-footed past Swans keeper Jack Turner from 15 yards.
The doubled their advantage on 27 minutes, Tom Derry netting his first Ks goal from open play after Turner made a fine save from Inns’ header from a corner.
Staines were given a lifeline three minutes later, Mohammed Bettamer slammng home a penalty after Adrian Clifton fell under a Lewis Taylor challenge in the box.
But the Swans didn’t learn their setpiece lesson and Inns made it 3-1 from a pacy Taylor corner seven minutes later.
Staines attacked with pace and verve in the second half but Ks largely restricted them to shots from distance which Ks keeper Rob Tolfrey dealt with at leisure.
However, on 87 minutes, Swans sub Bayley Brown netted from close range even before his arrival could be announced.
It set up a fraught finish. But Ks were well-organised and hardworking all day. And they held on.