Kingstonian finish their Ryman Division One South campaign in seventh place after a 2-1 home final day defeat to struggling Eastbourne Town.
Ks manager Alan Dowson took the opportunity to reshuffle his side and look at some squad players.
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An hour-long bombardment of the Eastbourne goal, including three shots against the woodwork, finally brought a goal on his home debut for striker Phil Williams.
Town keeper Greg Nessling was at his agile best, but the twist in the final half hour typified the season as Ks' inability to finish their opponents off was punished by two late goals.
The first half was one-way traffic as Ks tried to finish off their season in style.
It was their player of the year Dean Lodge who fired past Nessling on just six minutes but Peter Featherstone was on hand to clear the ball off his goalline.
Town rallied a minute later, when striker Mark Goodwin dispossessed keeper Luke Naughton and pushed the ball back to unmarked winger Gary Brockwell but he blasted over.
On 12 minutes, NJ Lampton took off down the left and fired past Nessling but centre-back Greg Manton coolly cleared.
A long Wayne Finnie throw found Gavin Cartwright deep in the Town box but his header was belted away.
On 26 minutes, a powerful 25-yarder from Cartwright was smothered by Nessling at his second attempt.
A Finnie throw resulted in shots from Lodge and Simon Huckle in the Yellows box but both were blocked.
A Huckle cross found an unmarked Williams in the Town box but his diving header hit the inside of the post and bounced away to safety.
In the final minute of the first half, Lodge took off with pace down the left but his powerfully struck rising drive was pushed away by a full-stretch Nessling.
Then Huckle did well to chest down a cross in the Town goalmouth but he lent back and blazed over, holding his head in frustration.
In the second minute of the second half a Lampton free-kick was met with a looping header from Cartwright that a full-stretch Nessling managed to turn onto the bar.
From a Lodge corner Cartwright could only head over.
A long, high free-kick from Lampton was met with a Huckle header than bounced invitingly into the Town goalmouth before defender Adam Davidson belted the ball away.
On 57 minutes, Lodge curled in a corner that saw Williams get in front of Nessling but unluckily he headed onto the near post.
Then a Finnie throw saw Williams battle through the away backline but Nessling made asuperb full-stretch point blank save.
On the hour the Ks eventually made the breakthrough, a David Suchy through ball split the Town backline allowing PHIL WILLIAMS to take off down the middle of the park, he was chased by two defenders, but he coolly slipped the ball home past the outcoming Nessling.
Sub striker Gary Noel on for the injured Williams drove over from 25 yards. The Ks fell back and this led to their undoing.
On 68 minutes Jon Coke had to chase Goodwin down the right but his eventual cross was pulled out of the air by Naughton.
A minute later the Town were back in the game, unmarked LUKE DENTON got on the end of a cross from the left and headed past a stationary Naughton on his line.
On 76 minutes, the Town took the lead exploiting some static defending, a powerful drive from skipper Danny Simmonds was pushed away by an unsighted Naughton but only for striker LIAM BAITUP to follow up from close range.
The K's went all out for an equalizer, a Finnie throw found Noel on the edge of the Yellows box but he sliced his drive wide.
Lampton got on the end of another Finnie throw but Nessling smothered the header. Then Simmonds did well to intercept a stray Huckle pass, he took off down the left and although his shot was eventually blocked, valuable seconds were eaten up.
Ks: Naughton, Beer, Coke, Sheridan (sub Watkins 71), Finnie, Cartwright, Suchy (Murphy 80), Lampton, Williams (Noel 60), Huckle, Lodge.
Ks man of the match: Gavin Cartwright.
Attendance: 323.
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