Boy wonder Clayton inspires Ks fightback (From Richmond and Twickenham Times)

Boy wonder Clayton inspires Ks fightback

9:39am Monday 31st October 2011 in Kingstonian By Taimour Lay

Kingstonian coach Martin Tyler has seen some great goals in his time, but there can have been few better than the Sam Clayton strike which began the home side’s recovery after trailing 2-0 to Wingate & Finchley on Saturday.

“I’ve been here five years and I’d say it was one of the most spectacular goals we’ve had,” said Sky Sports commentator Tyler, who raced to Kingsmeadow immediately after fulfilling his gantry duties at Stamford Bridge.

“It was a great shot, but it was also a very brave one, given the situation we were in.”

Two minutes later it was 2-2. Tom Bird curled a free-kick round the Wingate wall, the diving Blues keeper Bobby Smith got both hands to it, but could only push the ball on to his post and into the net.

Clayton, one of the squad’s quieter characters, whom Tyler hailed as a “credit to the club”, said afterwards that, despite the 2-2 draw, Ks are still aiming for the play-offs.

He said: “There’s plenty of time.

“We can make the top five. We just need to win four or five games on the spin.”

Hopes of putting together that sort of run are starting to look realistic.

Ks are rediscovering their cohesion after a difficult start to the season, with former Tonbridge midfielder Scott Kinch looking an astute signing, Romone McCrae now secured on loan until Christmas and Ali Chaaban again impressing with his touch and vision.

But familiar defensive lapses were evident again in the first-half.

Wingate’s first goal was particularly painful for the management team to watch.

Tony Burke dispossessed captain Gary MacDonald on the edge of the box and played in Ahmet Rifat – an intelligent threat all afternoon - who rolled the ball home.

There was less the Ks back line could do about the second on the half-hour, Burke smashing a 25-yard free-kick into the top corner.

But it was all Kingstonian pressure and clear-cut chances, both before and after those Wingate blows.

Bobby Traynor hit the post with an arching volley that would have rivalled Clayton for goal of the season; referee Stuart Franklin, whose performance could charitably be described as erratic, denied Ks two clear penalties, one in each half; and, in the very last minute, substitute Allan Tait had a fine downward header saved by Smith to keep the scores level.