Ks bounce back from bitter blow to beat Whyteleafe

4:53pm Tuesday 22nd April 2008

Comments (0)   Have your say »

Kingstonian 1 Whyteleafe 0

With devastating wins for play-off rivals Metropolitan Police and Worthing over the weekend, Ks' promotion hopes moved into the realm of mathematics and another season in Ryman One South beckons.

This dampened the atmosphere for the visit of Surrey Senior Cup finalists Whyteleafe and it turned into a drab and featureless game, in contrast to the excitement of the last few weeks.

The only goal in Ks' penultimate game was in the first minute of the second half when Leafe were caught cold.

The visitors replied with some useful long range efforts but Ks keeper Luke Garrard was at his acrobatic best.

It was an important milestone for defender Jon Coke, who took the skipper's armband from Simon Sobihy in recognition of his 100th K's game.

Ks wrap up their season next Saturday with the visit to Kingsmeadow of Eastbourne Town.

It was wingback Jamie Beer who kicked the game into life on just five minutes, when he belted over from 25 yards after a penetraing run down the left from Dean Lodge.

Then a Tommy Williams corner saw a Sobihy header bounce off Leafe keeper Rob Tolfrey.

A trademark run from Lodge down the right resulted in a low cross that went begging.

On 27 minutes, Leafe threatened when Garrard did well to block Moses Spencer close in on the near post.

Chris O'Flaherty's corner was headed over by centre back Jon Cartledge. Then Sobihy did well to track back to stop a run from pacy striker Sam Clayton.

Ks replied with a Lodge cross that found NJ Lampton on the far post but Callum MacLean did well to block for a corner.

Then winger Daniel Platel did well to dispossess Wayne Finnie on the edge of the Ks box but his shot didn't worry Garrard.

With seven minutes to the break, a long, high Finnie throw saw Sobihy launch himself to no avail.

An O'Flaherty free-kick fell to Adam Broomhead in the Ks box in space, he tried to lob the outcoming Garrard but the Ks keeper caught the ball.

Ks striker Bobby Traynor took off on a pacy run but fired into the arms of Tolfrey. Then an O'Flaherty high lob was well held by Garrard.

In the first minute of the second half, a high Lampton lob from way out in the right hand corner saw Tolfrey and Simon Huckle jump for the ball but they both missed allowing an unmarked lurking DEAN LODGE to slot home from a yard.

Leafe replied with a 30-yard stinging drive from Clayton that Garrard pushed over at full-stretch. Another Finnie throw saw Sobihy head over.

Clayton again took off on a pacy run which Gavin Cartwright did well to block.

On 74 minutes, MacLean took off down the right and let loose a fierce drive which was held by Garrard.

A minute later an O'Flaherty drive from 25 yards was tipped over by Garrard. Clayton then went around Sobihy but his well-struck drive was just wide of the far post.

K's sub Danny Summers in the final minute chased a long ball down the right which Tolfrey charged out of his box to clear.

Ks: 1. Luke Garrard 2. Jamie Beer 3. Jon Coke (capt) 4. Simon Sobihy 5. Wayne Finnie 6. Gavin Cartwright 7. NJ Lampton 8. Tommy Williams 9. Bobby Traynor (sub Danny Summers, 79mins) 10. Simon Huckle 11. Dean Lodge. Subs: 12. David Suchy (not used) 14. Danny Summers 15. Stephen Goddard (not used) 16. Rob Sheridan (not used) 19. Luke Naughton (G/k - not used).Ks yellow cards: Lampton, Sobihy.Attendance: 247Palmers Solicitors Ks man of the match: Wayne Finnie