Hams focused on Ks job not league tables (From Richmond and Twickenham Times)

Hams focused on Ks job not league tables

5:30pm Monday 30th January 2012 in Kingstonian By Stuart Amos

Kingstonian assistant manager Mark Hams took great heart from a goalless draw away to promotion-chasing Cray Wanderers after an improved Ks performance.

And although Hams was disappointed that the side could not take one of numerous chances to win the game, the fans were also pleased by Ks' performance.

It was a far tighter game than the previous week's home defeat by Concord Rangers, with Bobby Traynor dropped to the bench and midfield debuts for Ryan Woods and Saheed Sankoh as Ks returned to a 4-5-1 formation.

Hams paid tribute to the job done by the new midfielders.

"They did well - they gave us good energy, passed the ball well and gave us good variations in our play," he said.

Sankoh had a spell at Ks four years ago as a striker, but Hams explained the new role he sees for him now.

"He's playing more in the Patrick Vieira role - a box-to-box midfielder who will both score us goals and win the ball," he added.

With the new strength in midfield Ks enjoyed a lot more possession than they had against Concord. They were by far the better side in the first half, but could not find a breakthrough.

Gary MacDonald headed a corner over, Woods struck the crossbar from 20 yards, Sam Clayton rounded goalkeeper Andy Walker but had his shot, from an acute angle, blocked on the line while Woods fired wide after a Matt Pattison cross.

The home side were the stronger after the break though.

Rob Tolfrey saved well from Sam Long, who nearly joined Ks in the summer, Leigh Bremner, Tommy Whitenell and Jack Clark.

Ks' best chance of the second half saw Simon Huckle miss the target with a header.

Hams was pleased with the performance though, adding: "In the first half we were very, very good and had numerous chances. The second could have gone either way and they had a couple more chances than we did.

"I'm disappointed we couldn't put a chance away but am pleased by the way we've become a hard team to beat.

"Cray are a good side, who were 5th in the league for a reason, and I'm pleased that we've taken four point off them this season."

Ten points off the play-off spots, Ks' promotion chances are slim but not completely out of the question.

Hams is only thinking about Monday's visit high-flying of Lowestoft Town.

He said: "I'm not one to dissect league tables until about the last six weeks of the season. I'm just thinking about the Lowestoft game at the moment - we're playing well and I'm confident we can win."