Captain Gary MacDonald praised Ian Gayle as the team's new ''Makelele'' after a 3-1 win at Horsham on Saturday that lifted Kingstonian to 10th in the Ryman Premier.

On-loan Gayle has spent the last three matches acting as a midfield screen in front of the Kingstonian backline and a growing defensive assurance has been the result.

“Ian's done really well playing in that 'Makelele role',” said MacDonald, referring to the French international who turned negation into a positive art.

“He picks up loads of the little things that go loose, has good positioning and we are looking more solid.”

But it's not just 20-year-old Gayle providing greater protection for Ks, who have conceded 36 goals in 19 league games so far this season.

First-team coach Mark Hams has been setting the side up in a 4-1-4-1 formation, with Bobby Traynor alone upfront.

MacDonald denies that approach is unduly cautious: “The emphasis is that Bobby should never be on his own.

"One of the wide men should always be joining. So on paper it's one upfront but there'll be at least two runners.”

The centre-back also stressed that the continued absence of manager Alan Dowson has not disrupted the team.

“The routine's been much the same,” he said.

“Hamsy usually takes the majority of the training sessions. What we're missing is Dowse's voice in the dressing room and we want him back of course.

"I haven't spoken to him [since he took a break]. The players have respected the fact that he wants some space.

"I'd pick up the phone but I don't understand half of what he says when he speaks anyway!'”

Ks followed up the impressive 1-1 draw at Bury with victory over the struggling Hornets, but it took a bizarre refereeing decision to help them on their way.

Eight minutes in, Sam Clayton drove towards the Horsham penalty box and was clearly brought down a yard short of the white line.

Inexplicably, and despite the advice of his linesman, a spot-kick was awarded and Traynor converted his fifth penalty of the season.

And it was 2-0 on the hour after Simon Huckle headed back across goal for MacDonald to finish.

Though Horsham dominated for long periods in the second-half, and threatened to grab a draw after Ian Varley volleyed a shot that Rob Tolfrey could only palm on to the bar and into the net, three points were safe when Clayton arrowed home a rasping drive with his left-foot in the 90th minute.

Ks go down to South Park in the Surrey Senior Cup on Tuesday evening before a trip to East Thurrock next weekend.