Walton & Hersham 3 Kingstonian 3

Kingstonian battled back for a point at Walton & Hersham on Saturday despite Julien Thompson's hat-trick for the home side.

Ks had the better of the first half at Stompond Lane, with Gavin Cartwright giving the the lead.

But Thompson had other ideas after the break with a 16-minute hat-trick putting the Swans in control.

Ks were thrown a lifeline when the busy Dean Lodge was felled in the home box and striker Bobby Traynor made no mistake from the penalty spot.

With nine minutes remaining Ks skipper Simon Sobihy nodded home to earn a welcome point.

Ks had an excellent first half which started on just three minutes when Wayne Finnie's throw was only half-cleared to NJ Lampton, whose shot was blocked.

The loose ball fell to an unmarked Traynor close in, but keeper Rob Webb made a fine block for virtually his first touch of the game.

Swans attacking defender Adam Moriarty responded with a free-kick from distance that sailed across the face of the away goal.

Then Lampton broke down the right as the Swans backline fell back, and his final drive from distance was just off the far post.

After 11 minutes, Garrard made a mess of a high lob which let Thompson in but his near post shot rebounded for a corner off Sobihy's leg.

A Nick Rundell through ball found Simon Huckle whose first time effort went over.

After 21 minutes, Ks crowned some serious pressure with the first goal.

Traynor's cross from the left saw Lodge knock the ball back to GAVIN CARTWRIGHT on the edge of the Swans box and he neatly sidefooted the ball high into the far corner with Webb stranded.

The Swans were rocking and the Ks had chances to make it two.

Moriarty was found guilty of a backpass to Webb well inside the home box, Traynor set up Rundell but his fierce drive didn't pierce the defensive wall.

After 26 minutes, Lodge took off down the right in acres of space, but Webb darted out and made a fine full-stretch save.

Moriarty replied with a high free-kick from 25 yards which was well held by Garrard.

With five minutes to the break, Huckle set Lodge free down the right flank again, but Webb made another excellent diving save.

Traynor also took off down the right, he held the ball up, but his low cross was straight to Webb.

In the final minute of the half, Traynor took off on a powerful run but Swans skipper Lee Richardson cut out the cross.

Rundell's corner found Huckle but his header was straight at Webb.

Three minutes into the second half, Jason Turley took off down the right side, he found an unmarked Cartwright on the edge of the Swans box but his well-struck drive was wide.

After 53 minutes the Swans were level.

Garrard could only block a powerful shot from a Jon Neal drive allowing JULIEN THOMPSON to confidently fire home the follow-up.

Ks tried to steady the ship and a fierce volley from Traynor from outside the Swans box was pushed out by a full-stretch Webb.

But Swans took a 66th minute lead. A through ball from Rob George saw JULIEN THOMPSON take off into the Ks box. He shook off Sobihy and Lampton, to slot the ball past the outcoming Garrard.

Three minutes later the rampant JULIEN THOMPSON did it again, intercepting a Finnie back header and finding the far corner from an acute angle way out on the right.

Fortunately for Ks, the Swans conceded a penalty after 70 minutes when Lodge was sandwiched by a bevy of defenders.

Upstepped BOBBY TRAYNOR and he coolly lashed the spot-kick high and to his left giving Webb no chance.

The Swans nearly got a fourth in the 77th minute when a Moriarty free-kick from the left found danger man Thompson close in, but Garrard made a fine agile save along his line pushing the header out for a corner.

Ks kept at it and in the 81st minute they were rewarded.

Finnie's long high throw from the left bounced invitingly in the Swans goalmouth for SIMON SOBIHY to nod the ball home with Webb caught out.

There was still plenty of time to chase the winner, Swans centre back Aaron Nowacki set Thompson free down the left but Garrard darted out of his box to clear.

Kingstonian: 1. Luke Garrard 2. Jon Coke (sub David Suchy, 90mins) 3. Nick Rundell (sub Jamie Beer, 81mins) 4. Wayne Finnie 5. Simon Sobihy (capt) 6. Gavin Cartwright 7. NJ Lampton 8. Jason Turley 9. Bobby Traynor 10. Simon Huckle (sub Stephen Goddard, 88mins) 11. Dean Lodge.

Subs: 12. Jamie Beer 14. David Suchy 15. Saheed Sankoh (not used) 16. Stephen Goddard 19. Luke Naughton (G/k - not used).

K's Yellow Cards: Gavin Cartwright, NJ Lampton, Luke Garrard.

Attendance: 315