Kingstonian 2 Burgess Hill Town 3
Ks had a marvellous opportunity against mid-table Burgess Hill to confirm their play-off campaign but they blew it and have only themselves to blame.
The Hillians who broke quickly and effectively seemed to find great holes in the Ks backline and they exploited them to the full for their first victory at Kingsmeadow.
On the day Ks manager Alan Dowson drafted in former Dulwich Hamlet skipper Shawn Beveney to beef up his strikeforce but his backline has now shipped six goals in two games.
Further misery for Dowson was confirmed after the game with the news an ankle injury to Ks skipper Simon Sobihy might keep him out for four weeks.
Ks started well and Tommy Williams grabbed the goal of the game on only eight minutes. But the buoyant Hillians were in a 2-1 lead by the break.
The second half saw Ks build up a head of steam and their pressure was rewarded with nine minutes to go when striker Bobby Traynor popped up to finish off a Williams corner.
That seemed to be that, but the Ks backline fell asleep two minutes into additional time when Hilliams defender Stuart Turk nodded home the winner.
Hillians striker Shaheen Sadough was then sent off with a straight red card for an off the ball incident, but it was too late to have any influence on the game.
It was the Hillians who made the first attack of the game in the very first minute when Dave Piper shot off down the right and found his skipper Steve Harper in the Ks box but he blasted over first time.
Traynor replied flying down the left, he found Dean Lodge on the edge of the Hillians box but Chris May, who had a superb game, tipped the rising drive over.
In the eighth minute the Ks took the lead when TOMMY WILLIAMS let rip from 25 yards and his screamer struck the inside of the post on its way home.
The Hillians heads didnt drop though and they turned the game around. Sadough burst through the Ks backline but a backtracking Wayne Finnie managed to poke the ball the out for a corner.
On 27 minutes the Hillians were level after a through ball from James Howell set Sadough free down the right, his cross saw STEVE HARPER finally bundle the ball home after a desperate goalmouth scramble.
Seven minutes later the visitors were in the lead when Martin set DAVE PIPER dart down the right into the Ks box and he picked his spot well, firing home into the far corner past the outcoming Luke Garrard.
This shook the Ks and they should have equalized before the break. Traynor set Lodge free on a solo run down the right, May darted out, but the Ks youngster's low drive was a yard wide of the far post.
In the final minute Beveney cut in from the left and let loose a powerful drive that went just wide. Traynor let loose a ferocious volley inside the Hillians box that May did amazingly well to block.
Then a Traynor cross from the left fell into the Hillians goalmouth but a flying header from Tom Edmonds saw the ball out.
Beveney started the second half holding up the ball way out on the right, he picked out Lodge in the away box but his header was comfortable for May.
Then the Hillians almost put the game to bed when Harper let loose a powerful drive that a full-stretch Garrard did well to push out to the wing, winger Neil Watts drove the follow-up in and the Ks keeper again did well to scramble back and hook the ball off his own goalline.
A long high clearance from May saw Ks defender Nick Rundell head the ball into the path of Harper but he drove his shot straight at Garrard.
Then Harper tried to find Sadough in the Ks box but Garrard whipped the ball away. After that it was all Ks pressure. A Williams corner found Gavin Cartwright close in but his header was tipped over by an alert May.
Williams consecutive corner was only half-cleared to Lodge but his cross floated out.
Lodge was making waves flying down the left, he picked out Traynor but he was immediately closed down by a confident looking away backline.
The 81st minute saw the Ks equaliser when Simon Huckle headed a Williams corner onto the far post where BOBBY TRAYNOR in a crowd of players poked the ball home from close range.
The Hillians threatened again, a well-placed Rundell cleared a Nick Fogden header off his goalline with Garrard beaten. Lodge went down the left again but his cross was straight to May.
In the final minute Lodge darted into the away box but again May made a great block.
It looked like a point apiece until well into additional time when a Fogden throw from the left was flicked on by Danny Gainsford to STUART TUCK close in and he nodded the ball past Garrard.
The dangerous Traynor kept on going and a very late strike was cleared off the line by Tuck.
Ks: 1. Luke Garrard 2. Simon Sobihy (capt) (sub Jon Coke, 46mins) 3. Nick Rundell 4. Gavin Cartwright 5. Wayne Finnie 6. Simon Huckle 7. NJ Lampton 8. Tommy Williams 9. Bobby Traynor 10. Shawn Beveney (sub David Suchy, 72mins) 11. Dean Lodge. Subs: 12. Jon Coke 14. Danny Summers (not used) 15. Stephen Goddard (not used) 16. David Suchy 19. Luke Naughton (G/k - not used).Ks Yellow Cards: David Suchy.Ks man of the match: Tommy Williams.Attendance: 266
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article