Kingstonian wasted an excellent opportunity to kick start their Ryman League promotion challenge against a struggling Ashford Town side on Saturday and came back from Kent dejected following a 2-1 defeat.

It was the Ks' third visit to the Homelands and their third defeat as they conceded a late winner due to a disastrous lapse in concentration.

Goalkeeper Luke Garrard saved from Ashford strikers George Fenwick and Adam O'Neill before Fenwick put the home side ahead in the 28th minute. An Ian Ross corner from the right saw Fenwick rise above the Ks defence to head powerfully past a full-stretch Garrard.

But a miute later Ks were level. Skipper Martyn Lee, who was behind some of their best moves, provided a pinpoint cross from the left and an unmarked Mazin Ahmad brought the ball down perfectly to drill it into the far corner of the net past the diving Simon Overland.

A quickly-taken free-kick from Lee then set Ahmad free down the left, only for Overland to make a heroic diving save. Another Lee free-kick caught Overland in two minds, but Danny Lavender, at full-stretch, could only head over. Lee later sent new striker Adolph Amoako down the left but he was foiled by an alert Overland.

The Nuts & Bolts ended the half strongly, with Garrard making superb instinctive saves from Thorogood and O'Neill.

Ks took up the running at the start of the second-half in which Overland's alertness foiled Lee and Scott Corbett. Further Ks pressure resulted in Corbett, Amoako and Taylor going close.

It looked like both sides would have to be content with a draw until the 86th minute when indecision deep in the Ks box allowed Adam O'Neill to intervene and drive the ball low past a stranded Garrard.

Kingstonian: Garrard, Hudson, Symes, Broad, Lavender, Taylor, Ahmad, Corbett, Reid (Morris, 60mins), Amoako, Lee (capt). Subs not used: Coke, Sills, Salaam, Windegaard. Att: 207.