Kingstonian's first home game of their pre-season campaign saw them take a step up in class, taking on their Conference South neighbours Hampton & Richmond Borough.
Ks did themselves proud against a strong Beavers side and when striker Bobby Traynor fired home a volley late on it looked like honours may finish even.
But the visitors came back with some vengeance and secured a last gasp winner from sub Dave Tarpey. On Saturday Kingstonian have a special day when their old Conference foes Woking return to Kingsmeadow.
Before that former boss Geoff Chapple of both clubs will rule over a Ks and Woking Legends game which has a 2pm kick-off.
Expect to see some of the old faces from Kingstonian's Conference days and who featured in the famous successive FA Trophy final victories at Wembley in 1999 and 2000.
The game really got going with an opening goal from the Beavers on just nine minutes. FRANCIS QUARM sized up a free-kick from some 25 yards and curled the ball over the defensive wall and past a full-stretch Luke Garrard. Simon Huckle replied setting up Lewis Cook on the edge of the Beavers box but he belted the ball wide.
A free-kick from Tommy Williams on the edge of the away box was blocked allowing Ryan Lake two strikes that were also stopped. On 29 minutes a long clearance from Beavers keeper Matt Lovett was met with an effort from striker Lawrence Yaku but Garrard smothered.
Then winger Ashley Smith blasted over from 30 yards. Huckle this time set striker Carl Wilson-Denis free down the right into the away box but Lovett did well to hold a fierce strike.
With four minutes to the break a through ball from Jamie Beer found Wilson-Denis with his back to the Hampton goal but he still chanced a header that fell to a well-placed Lovett.
The Ks' best chance was in the final minute of the first half when a run and cross from Cook found Traynor lurking on the far post but he lashed the ball over the bar from close quarters.
The visitors almost increased their lead some ten minutes into the second half when sub Jon McDonald drilled in a fierce, low drive from the edge of the K's box that Garrard did well to smother.
Ks sub Scott Simpson replied with a well-struck drive from 25 yards that went wide. Then Quarm again had another go from the edge of the Ks box but sub keeper Josh Willis did well to smother.
With quarter of an hour to go it was K's quality time. Lake way out on the left sent a high crossfield ball to an unmarked BOBBY TRAYNOR on the far post and he confidently volleyed the ball home with some power into the roof of the Hampton net.
Back came the Beavers, sub striker Elliott Braithwaite broke into the Ks box but Willis was out quickly to smother. A low cross from Steve Tyson from the right flank was held by Willis on the near post.
On 81 minutes a Braithwaite cross from the left flank found DAVE TARPEY inside the Ks box and his well-struck low drive just squeezed home between Willis and a Ks defender on the line. Ks sub NJ Lampton's cross from the left found Wayne Finnie in the Hampton box but he headed wide.
With two minutes to go a cheeky backheel from K's sub Luke Pigden to Wilson-Denis saw a fierce rising drive that was pushed away by full-stretch Hampton sub keeper Chico Ramos.
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