Chipstead 2 Kingstonian 2
A late NJ Lampton goal saw Kingstonian salvage a vital point in their first ever league game at Chipstead last night.
Ks started like they finished in Saturday's 3-0 win over Dulwich Hamlet, pushing the Chips back with a series of goal-scoring opportunities.
Silly defensive errors saw the Ks concede two goals, but a poacher's goal from striker Saheed Sankoh, in for the suspended Simon Huckle, kept then in the hunt.
Chipstead defended well in the second half and it looked as though Ks would leave Surrey commuter belt empty handed until Lampton netted from a late corner to salvage a point.
The Chips keeper Andy Parkinson made a fine acrobatic save on five minutes to deny a powerful Lampton header set up by Tommy Williams corner.
Then Sankoh found Dean Lodge out on the left, his cross found Jason Turley unmarked on the far post but over-stretched his shot was too weak to worry a busy Parkinson.
Another Lodge cross from the left saw a Parkinson fumble but defender Chris Head was on hand to clear.
After 14 minutes, Sankoh found Bobby Traynor deep in the home box. He poked the ball home past Parkinson but was adjudged offside.
A minute later an embattled Chips had their first attempt on goal when Aaron Coke-Bolt had a go from 25 yards.
In the 16th minute, Gavin Cartwright was caught in possession by striker SCOTT SIMPSON and he coolly placed the ball past stranded keeper Luke Garrard to give Chipstead the lead.
Ks came back with Lodge setting up Traynor from 25 yards and his rising drive was only just wide of the far post.
Ks were back in the game after 26 minutes when a Traynor cross from the left found Lampton whose quick flick into the Chips goalmouth saw SAHEED SANKOH score from close range.
Before Ks could build on their equaliser the Chips resumed their lead.
On the half-hour Jon Coke upended Craig Pitterson just inside the Ks box and was booked.
Up stepped Chips skipper DANNY OAKINS to fire the spot-kick into the left hand corner well beyond Garrard.
Coke immediately redeemed himself when winger Lee Sidwell found Oakins in the away box but the Ks defender made a superb saving tackle.
Eight minutes into the second half, Cole-Bolt latched onto Garrard's clearance and went on a penetrating run that finished with a rising drive over the bar.
Wayne Finnie replied with a long high throw into the Chips box that was seen out on the far post.
The home side did not seem unduly troubled by any Ks threat so it was no surprise on 66 minutes when manager Alan Dowson threw on fresh legs bringing on striker Stephen Goddard and David Suchy.
It almost worked when a Suchy cross from the right found Goddard but his header was held by Parkinson.
Traynor then set Lodge free down the left and he linked up well with Goddard but there was no way through the Chips defence.
A Simon Sobihy cross on 73 minutes found the hard-working Traynor, but his header went wide of the far post.
The Chips were also looking more dangerous in the Ks box. A run by Sidwell down the right saw him drop a sweet cross into the goalmouth, but Simpson just failed to make contact.
Then a long through ball from Pitterson set Oakins free but he his eventual shot found the side-netting.
A couple of high curling Suchy corners were seen off until five minutes to go when another corner from the Ks sub found an unmarked NJ LAMPTON and his looping header found the far corner well beyond Parkinson.
Both sides chased a winner, a Head corner saw centre back Andy Wareing head over.
Then a Coke clearance was turned skillfully by Lodge to Sobihy in the Chips box but his header at full-stretch went over.
In the last seconds of additional time Garrard had to dart out his box to clear from a lurking Simpson.
Kingstonian: 1. Luke Garrard 2. Jon Coke 3. Simon Sobihy (capt) 4. Wayne Finnie 5. Gavin Cartwright 6. Tommy Williams (sub David Suchy, 66mins) 7. NJ Lampton 8. Jason Turley 9. Bobby Traynor 10. Saheed Sankoh (sub Stephen Goddard, 66mins) 11. Dean Lodge Subs: 12. David Suchy 14. Stephen Goddard 15. Matt York (not used) 16. Jamie Beer (not used) 17. Luke Naughton (G/k - not used).
K's Yellow Cards: Jon Coke, Jason Turley.
Attendance: 145
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