Kingstonian’s suicidal start to the season is becoming just a painful memory as they secured their first home win of the season at the expense of an impressive fast-moving Horsham side.

Two set-piece headed goals in the first half from Simon Huckle and Karl Beckford gave the Ks a comfortable lead at the break.

But it didn’t put the Hornets off who contributed some sublime approach work and although they got one goal back early on, the Ks backline was stingy as ever with man of the match Matt Gray and the workaholic Des Boateng on impressive form.

The Ks are back literally on the Wembley trail this Saturday (September 26th, 3.00pm k.o.) when they travel again this season to Hendon this time in the second qualifying round of the FA Cup.

This game will be played at Vale Farm, home of Wembley FC, and not Claremont Road.

The Hornets threatened right from the off. On 3 minutes winger Russell Eldridge let loose a powerful drive from 20 yards and Luke Garrard had to be on his toes to push the ball out for a corner.

Three minutes later Gray got going and also drove wide from distance.

On 13 minutes Dean Lodge took off on his first run of the evening but his effort too was off-target.

Five minutes later Lodge took off down the left finding striker Carl Wilson-Denis on the far post, he did well to control a high ball, but his eventual drive didn’t worry experienced Horsham keeper Rob Tolfrey.

A Gray throw from the right eventually fell to Boateng on the edge of the away box but his well-struck rising drive was tipped over by Tolfrey. It didn’t matter because on 20 minutes the K’s went one better.

A Gray corner from the left picked out SIMON HUCKLE close in on the far post and his bullet header gave Tolfrey no chance.

Back came the Hornets with midfielder Jack Lyons bursting into the K’s box with an low acute-angled drive that went past a diving Garrard but Max Hustwick was on hand to comfortably clear.

A looping header from Hornets striker Ben Andrews tested Garrard but he had drifted offside.

On 26 minutes the Ks made it two when Gray, in acres of space out on the right, picked out KARL BECKFORD close in and again he headed home with some power.

A Lyons through ball was meant for striker Pat Harding, darting into the Ks box, but Garrard was out very quickly to smother.

Gray floated in a long, high free-kick which Tolfrey punched clear from Huckle. On 34 minutes a short free-kick from Gray to an unmarked Lodge, on the edge of the away box, resulted in a powerful on-target effort which was straight at Tolfrey.

Then a high cross from Lee Carney, way out on the right, bounced off a few heads and backs deep in the Ks box before Garrard mopped up. With a minute to the break the visitors should have scored.

A Lyons through ball set Harding free but his shot saw Garrard make a fine point-blank block. Harding made it first to the follow-up but he fired disappointedly into the side-netting.

Then a powerful rising drive from Lyons from the edge of the Ks box was only inches wide. A cross from Hornets winger Alex Haddow was picked out of the air by an under pressure Garrard.

The Hornets kept up the pressure right after the break with an edge of the K’s box half-volley from Harding that was well held by Garrard. But on 52 minutes the Ks had a real chance for the safety of a third goal.

Gray cleverly foxed the Hornets defence with an edge of the box free-kick which set striker Bobby Traynor free down the blind side.

His acute-angled low drive saw a one-handed save from Tolfrey, and if someone had been following up a goal was for the asking.

Then another Gray free-kick, from way out on the right, found an unmarked Wilson-Denis, hugging the far post, but his on-target flying header was pushed out for a corner by an alert Tolfrey.

On 52 minutes Horsham were really back in the game when Carney sent in a corner from the left and BEN ANDREWS nodded home comfortably on the near post.

On 69 minutes Gray sent in corner that went through Tolfrey’s hands in an almighty scrum in the Hornst goalmouth Hustwick could only hook the ball over.

Andrew took off down the right and sent in a low cross that was slid out by K’s centre- back John Harrison conceding a corner.

Deep into additional time a Horsham corner with everyone up and everyone back resulted in an accidental clash of heads in a crowded Ks goalmouth between Hornets defender Mark Knee and Huckle.

Knee required treatment for five minutes and was stretchered off, fortunately conscious, but holding his shoulder.

K’s manager Alan Dowson rushed on sub defender Francis Duku for more defensive back-up as the K’s held on for the last few seconds of a very dramatic and exciting game.

Ks. 1. Luke Garrard (capt) 2. Matt Gray 3. Lee Hall 4. Max Hustwick 5. John Fletcher 6. Simon Huckle 7. Dean Lodge (sub Francis Duku, 90mins) 8. Des Boateng (sub Christian Jolley, 86mins) 9. Bobby Traynor 10. Carl Wilson-Denis 11. Karl Beckford (sub Rob Sheridan, 72mins).

Ks subs: 12. Francis Duku 13. Ashlee Jones (G/k – not used) 14. Rob Sheridan 15. Lewis Cook (not used) 16. Christian Jolley.

Ks Yellow Cards: Hustwick, Boateng.

Attendance: 411