Kingstonian 1-1 Carshalton Athletic
WHOOPS

Just a few hours after the draw had been made for the quarter-finals of the FA Trophy, the majority of the K's first team ran out in the "other" cup competition. Rivalries from the Ryman were resumed as K's faced Carshalton for the "right" to play either Sutton or Woking in the final of the Surrey Senior Cup. The full backs were altered from Saturday, with Danny Smith getting a rare start - as did Scott Corbett who replaced England-international Patterson.

It didn't take K's long to show that they were the better team - 3 minutes in fact. Geoff Pitcher crossed from the right, goalkeeper Stewart Searle went up with one of his defenders, tipped the ball onwards into the path of Scott Corbett. The midfielder showed his deadly touch from 7 inches and headed in. One-nil, and many more to come (or so we all thought.....).

Youngster Ronaldo Dean Thomas came on just after the goal, when Kevin Rattray struggled off with some sort of injury and K's switched to playing with two up front, with Eddie playing just behind. And very well the formation worked. But there wasn't really much to get excited about - Colin Luckett hit the post from a corner after which Carshalton stormed down the other end, where Jerome John was forced to make a good save from Paul Sears. This should have provided K's with the reminder that one goal is rarely ever enough.

Ronaldo Dean Thomas was showing that he is still a good prospect at the other end, with a few surging runs, and Leworthy was giving his knees a real work out to keep up. One of the other "fringe" players, Danny Smith, was not having the best of nights. A clear foul on the edge of the box saw him booked when he couldn't have complained had the card been red (where have we heard that before ?!). The free-kick smashed into the wall, then the rebound struck the referee, all quite comical really.

The second half saw no real increase in the adrenalin levels - from players or supporters. Mark Harris headed wide from a Danny Smith cross, Thomas went close with a shot after cutting in from the right while Pitcher picked up yet another yellow card. Maybe it's something to do with his initials....

With just moments left, there were few worries. K's had managed to come through the game without exerting theirselves, with the only worry being Rattray's injury. Until Junior Haynes struck of course. A long free-kick from the left went all the way to the far post where the ex-K's player stood. A sweet volley saw the ball nestle in the corner of the net and saw Carshalton celebrate a well-deserved equaliser.

Even though we were by now into injury time, Athletic almost won it, with another Haynes shot which just cleared the bar. But that was it, and so it's off to the War Memorial Sports Ground. Gee, that's lucky. We really needed another game at the moment.