Godalming Town 1 Kingstonian 1

As Ian Pearce lashed the ball into the roof of the net 15 minutes into Tuesday night's friendly clash against Chuck Martin’s Godalming Town, it was not surprising why Ks manager Alan Dowson is doing all he can to sign the ex-West Ham and Blackburn man.

Adam Thompson, last season’s rock in the centre of defence, played his first friendly and came through a combative hour with no damage done.

Town’s starting line-up included a number of ex-Ks men and it was one, the pacy Phil Williams, who grabbed their equaliser late on.

Ks now travel to old foes Leatherhead for their penultimate friendly on Saturday, August 8, with a kick-off brought forward to 2pm. On just two minutes, Ks keeper Josh Willis confidently pulled a cross out of the air from Gs defender Liam Pestle.

Scott Simpson replied a couple of minutes later, finding Pearce in space but he blasted wide.

On 15 minutes, a throughball from Reggie Savage saw strong and capable possession from IAN PEARCE in the Gs box. He looked up and let loose a sweet and unstoppable rising drive. Ks pushed forward for another, with Simpson’s cross from the left finding the busy Savage, who headed over.

Then Savage himself fired over from 25 yards. On 24 minutes, Gs winger Glen Stanley, way out on the right, turned deftly and sent in a dangerous cross over Willis but Rob Sheridan was on hand to head out for a corner.

Ten minutes later, Savage set Luke Pigden deep in the Gs box but he unluckily ran the ball to Gs keeper Luke Naughton.

Simpson then set Savage free down the left but he fired straight at Naughton.

Simpson picked out Pearce in the home box but Naughton did enough to see the ex-Premiership man fire wide of the near post.

The second half saw the game slow as an army of substitutes from both sides entered the game.

A free-kick from sub Tom Dilloway was well held by Gs sub keeper Gary Aulsberry.

Then Williams got on the end of a free-kick but he headed straight at Willis.

Gs skipper Richard Taylor replied lashing the ball across the face of the Ks goalmouth.

Dilloway then sized up a promising free-kick on the edge of the home box, he set up Savage but he was immediately closed down.

On 67 minutes, Gs drew level when PHIL WILLIAMS took off at some pace down the right flank and finished with some class, firing a low drive which went in off the far post.

Four minutes later a long ball from Francis Duku found Savage deep in the home box, he turned and fired but straight at Aulsberry.

Then Pearce tested Aulsberry with a cheeky lob from distance.

Substitute Christian Jolley out on the right found Savage hugging the far post and he unleashed a powerful volley which looked goalbound but was pushed away by an acrobatic Aulsberry.

Then a cross from Savage out on the left was fingertipped away by Aulsberry with Pearce threatening.

Jolley cut in from the right and sent in a far post cross that went begging.

The game ended with the pacy Williams free down the middle of the park but he had just strayed offside.

Ks (starting line-up): 1. Josh Willis 2. Rob Sheridan 3. Ryan Lake 4. Francis Duku 5. Adam Thompson 6. Jon Coke (capt) 7. Jamie Beer 8. Luke Pigden 9. Ian Pearce 10. Reggie Savage 11. Scott Simpson.

Subs: Tom Dilloway. Jon Quigley. Luke Garrard (G/k not used). Christian Jolley. Jason Finnegan. Ingus Slampe.