Gray scores a screamer as Ks get back on track

After last Tuesday night's setback at Harrow, Ks bounced straight back to overcome a really tough and attacking Billericay side to keep their play-off campaign on track.

Mind you, the home side really had to work hard as the visitors, keen to extricate themselves from the drop zone, would have been gutted to get absolutely zilch for all of their effort.

Ks striker Bobby Traynor, against the run of play, opened the scoring with another superbly executed textbook penalty kick just before the half-hour mark.

Billericay finally and unsurprisingly equalised at the beginning of the second half but, before they could build on their goal, Ks man of the match Matt Gray notched a spectacular goal from some 30 yards, which fully deserved to be a winning strike.

With just five minutes remaining nippy Ricay winger Danny Green was set free down the middle of the park but on-form Ks custodian Rob Tolfrey made another superb point-blank save to keep Ks' lead intact.

Ks now have a midweek break before the travel to Bromley on Saturday to take on Cray Wanderers, who are now pulling themselves clear of the relegation zone. It was the Essex side that made all of the early running.

On just three minutes, a cross from winger Dave Wareham out on the left found striker James Baker on the near post but his diving header went wide.

In the ninth minute, Ks skipper Adam Thompson's hamstring, which tweaked at Harrow, gave way again and he was replaced by substitute Rob Sheridan.

Two minutes later, a cross from defender and Ricay skipper Ian Cousins was headed wide again by Baker.

A powerfully struck edge of the Ks box drive from Wareham struck a defender on its way out for a corner which was headed wide by centre-back Lee Kersey.

On 22 minutes, a Gray free-kick from way out on the left was mopped up in confident fashion by the away backline.

Three minutes later, Ks had their first chance on goal when a long, high cross from Lee Hall, out on the left, found striker Carl Wilson-Denis on the far post but his on-target header was tipped over by keeper Paul Nicholls at full-stretch.

A minute later, Ricay defender Gareth Street inexplicably upended Luke Hickie just inside the away box.

Upstepped BOBBY TRAYNOR, on 27 minutes, and coolly struck the spotkick home into the right hand corner with Nicholls moving the wrong way.

A Gray throw from the left found Traynor on the edge of the away box, but he sliced his drive wide.

Gray, at an acute angle out on the left, let loose a fierce drive that Nicholls held on the near post.

With four minutes to the break, Russell Pond took off along the edge of the Ks box and fired in a powerful rising drive that was tipped over by Tolfrey.

In the final minute of the half, Green took off down the right flank, Tolfrey, darted out, and the Ricay winger shot wide of the far post. The half ended with a Green free-kick out on the right but he curled the set-piece into the side-netting.

Ks almost started the second half with a goal. A Gray drive from way out on the right went just wrong side of the far post.

On 52 minutes, Wareham took off down the left, his first cross was blocked by John Fletcher, the second found the head of an unmarked Green in the Ks goalmouth but he headed wide of the far post, much to his own irritation.

No problem because on 54 minutes the Ricay equalised. A Michael Shinn corner from the right saw LEE KERSEY,on the far post, rise above the Ks backline to head powerfully home through a crowded goalmouth.

But three minutes later, we had the goal of the game, and possibly of 2010. Ricay's Chris Wild had been booked for tripping Wilson-Denis some 30 yards out of the away goal.

Upstepped MATT GRAY and unleashed an irresistible and powerful rising drive that curled over the defensive wall and flashed past a stranded Nicholls on his line.

Ks midfielder Mo Harkin then set Traynor free down the right but he blasted wide of the far post.

A Shinn cross from the right was seen out for a Pond corner that led to an almighty melee in the Ks goalmouth as Baker tried to force the ball home.

Eventually, Pond, on the edge of the Ks box, struck the ball over.

Then in the 80th minute, a lovely cushioned header from Pond set Green completely free down the middle of the park, but a full-stretch Tolfrey made an important block and Sheridan raced back to clear the ball off the line. There was four minutes of additional time and, in the dying seconds, the visitors threw everyone upfront for a last-gasp corner, including keeper Nicholls, but the ball curled out harmlessly for a goal-kick.

Ks: 1. Rob Tolfrey 2. Matt Gray 3. John Fletcher 4. Adam Thompson (capt) (sub Rob Sheridan, 09mins) 5. Max Hustwick 6. Luke Hickie 7. Bashiru Alimi 8. Mo Harkin (sub Simon Huckle, 80mins) 9. Bobby Traynor (sub Dean Lodge, 88mins) 10. Carl Wilson-Denis 11. Lee Hall.

Subs: 12. Simon Huckle 13. Craig Bradshaw (G/k - not used) 14. Dean Lodge 15. Christian Jolley (not used) 16. Rob Sheridan.

Yellow cards: Hickie, Gray.

Attendance: 318

Ks man of the match, chosen by Table One supporters: Matt Gray