Horsham 0 Kingstonian 1

Kingstonian's first away Ryman Premier League victory of 2010 was another battle of epic proportions against a Horsham side keen to get back among the play-off spots.

Played on a sloping, soft and sandy surface, good football was going to be diffcult, but that didn't stop both sides delivering a real end-to-end thriller.

Ks opened well and grabbed the only goal of the game just after the half-hour mark through on-form striker Carl Wilson-Denis aided by fellow striker Bobby Traynor.

The second half saw the Hornets push up to try to get something from the game but, again, Ks backline was pretty much impregnable and, when it was breached, keeper Rob Tolfrey, returning to his old club, made a series of important saves late on.

Ks' play-off campaign continues tomorrow evening (February 9) when they travel to metroland to take on Harrow Borough. Saturday's game came alight on four minutes, when Ks midfielder Simon Huckle pushed a ball through into the path of Traynor in the home box but he was adjudged to be offside.

Then Christian Jolley had a go from the edge of the Hornets box but he went wide.

The busy Matt Gray sent in a free-kick from the right for Huckle, but he could get no purchase on his header.

On 12 minutes, Horsham keeper Craig Bradshaw left his box to clear from a lurking Wilson-Denis.

Four minutes later, Gray sent in a cross from the left finding Huckle again but his header didn't trouble Bradshaw.

Jolley took off on a long run down the left, sending in a useful throughball for Wilson-Denis deep in the home box but defender Ian Payne coolly cleared.

On 27 minutes, it was the Hornets' best effort so far when midfielder Jack Page, out on the right, fired in from an acute angle that Tolfrey pushed into the side-netting on the near post.

Ks replied with some vehemence. A Gray run down the right saw him find Mo Harkin who set up Luke Hickie, but his fierce rising drive was seen out for a corner by an alert Bradshaw.

In the 32nd minute, a Gray short corner found Traynor, who floated in a dangerous far-post cross and CARL WILSON-DENIS outjumped the Hornets defenders and nodded home the only goal of the game.

Ks were rampant - Traynor had a go from the left which Bradshaw pushed out.

Then, a long ball from Hickie released Wilson-Denis free down the left, he poked the ball low around the outcoming Bradshaw, but the ball rolled the wrong side of the far post.

The home side started to up their game, a Jack Page cross from the right was blocked by Francis Duku, striker Claude Seanla made it to the loose ball first, but he fired wide of the far post.

Then, Steve Sargent floated in a free-kick that was held by Tolfrey under serious pressure, and a push was also spotted.

The Hornets continued the pressure from the restart.

Huckle was booked for tripping pacy sub Tony Nwachukwa out on the right flank.

A Payne free-kick from the right was half-cleared to sub Adam Hutchings on the edge of the away box but he sliced his drive wide.

On 51 minutes, Ks had a chance of increasing their lead when an unselfish Traynor set up Huckle deep in the Hornets box but his his drive was unconvincing and off-target.

Nwachukwu found Horsham new boy Sam Tucknott in the Ks box but he drove over.

A Sargent free-kick from the right was headed over by Nwachukwu.

A penetrating cross from defender Anthony Acheampong saw a good confident punch clear from Tolfrey under pressure.

On 64 minutes, Bradshaw left his box to head the ball clear from Traynor, Gray looked up and sent in a lob, but the Horsham keeper backtracked quickly to collect.

Ks had another chance of a welcome second goal when sub Dean Lodge took off on a long run down the right, sending in a backline-splitting through ball to Hickie on the edge of the home box but he blazed the ball over.

On 78 minutes, a good run from Nwachukwu down the right saw him send in a cross that finally fell to striker Pat Harding close in, but Tolfrey made a fine instinctive point-blank save.

Seven minutes later, Sargent set Tucknott free down the left, in plenty of space, and he unleashed a rising drive that unluckily struck the bar on its way over.

Ks survived as Hickie set Lodge free down the middle of the park, he tried to cheekily sidestep Bradshaw on the edge of his box, but the keeper anticipated it well and blocked the ball.

With four minutes to go it waa that man Tolfrey again when he acrobatically tipped over one-handed a Nwachukwu header from close range.

Four minutes of additional time gave the home side another chance of a point.

A Sargent free-kick saw sub Max Hustwick and Harding locked in a tremendous tussle deep in the Ks box but Tolfrey was on hand to mop up.

In the dying stages Lodge again found himself free upfront, just outside the Hornets box, but this time a foul was spotted halting his progress.

Ks: 1. Rob Tolfrey 2. Matt Gray 3. John Fletcher 4. Adam Thompson 5. Francis Duku (capt) 6. Simon Huckle 7. Luke Hickie 8. Mo Harkin (sub Lee Hall, 85mins) 9. Bobby Traynor (sub Max Hustwick, 90 mins) 10. Carl Wilson-Denis (sub Dean Lodge, 64mins) 11. Christian Jolley.

Subs: 12. Dean Lodge. 13. Grant Fisher (G/k - not used) 14. Max Hustwick 15. Rob Sheridan (not used) 16. Lee Hall

Ks yellow cards: Fletcher, Huckle

Attendance: 424