When Elliott Buchanan lashed in Kingstonian’s seventh goal against hapless Harlow Town on Saturday, there was still time for another disallowed K’s strike and a fine save from Josh Bexon to keep the score from looking even more outlandish. Indeed, there was the real prospect of a highest competitive victory margin since a 10-0 win over Hitchin in 1966.
The final 7-0 result was nonetheless Kingstonian’s biggest win since a 9-3 over Cray Wanderers in 2013. And Harlow won’t want to return in a hurry - they lost 6-0 to K’s just last season.
Manager Leigh Dynan felt the goals had been coming. “The boys did what I know they can do", he said afterwards. "We’ve been improving. We put four past Folkestone and I felt we were unlucky last week. The key thing that people have to understand is we’ve got our players back from injury. But I take full responsibility. Pre-season wasn’t the best. Then there were injuries and suspensions. I made mistakes, but I work my socks off and I won’t settle until we get it right.”
Debutant Alfie Doughty, an 18-year-old left-winger on loan from Charlton, particularly impressed, his pace and trickery wreaking havoc while also scoring two goals. Dynan was swift to thank the League One side for agreeing to the loan. “He’s a proper winger, he’s young, he lives literally 5 minutes from Tolworth, he’s a local boy. I’m grateful to Charlton for trusting us with him.”
Doughty only waited seven minutes to make an impact, flying down the left to get to the byeline before pulling the ball back for David Fitzpatrick, who shimmied inside a defender and blasted home from about 15 yards out.
Three minutes later it was 2-0, Fitzpatrick crossing for Louie Theophanous to power home first-time from close range. The game was over as a contest on 27 minutes. Jay Gasson headed the ball into the box and Theophanous found the space to convert.
It was 4-0 soon after, Doughty again using his pace to the get to the byeline and again finding Fitzpatrick with a low cross. This time Fitzpatrick's shot hit defender Harold Joseph before deflecting towards Bexon, only to squirm free into the net. It was credited - perhaps a touch harshly - as an own goal for the goalkeeper.
After half-time, Doughty deservedly got on the scoresheet himself when he outjumped former K Paul Rodgers at the far post. And a rare quiet spell of the game was soon punctuated by another Doughty goal as he raced onto a long ball over the top before slotting home. Numerous chances came and went until, six minutes from full-time, Buchanan finally got in on the act to complete the rout.
K’s climb to 13th but attention now turns to the FA Trophy First Qualifying Round next weekend when they will host Step 4 Bedford Town at King George’s Field.
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