Kingstonian 1-3 Hayes
HAYE-DAY CELEBRATIONS

The last home game of Kingstonian's potentially-successful second season in the Conference ended with a whimper as Hayes scored three second-half goals to take the May-day spoils. Lee Charles, who has been linked with K's recently, scored one and Lee Flynn both others as the home defence provided chances for a side which hadn't looked at all dangerous in the first half.

Junior Kadi, edging ever closer to a Wembley start, started for the third time in the last four games (or eight days) and did all he could to tie up the number seven shirt. Amara Simba kept up his recent spell of playing a game then missing a game by starting, although if he keeps this up he won't be seen on the 13th. Gary Drewett was another "fringe" inclusion as he looked to continue his good form from Hednesford.

The first chance of the game fell to the Frenchman Simba, who was played through on the edge of the area. His shot was poor, but he was merely getting his sights aligned. Jason Goodliffe almost connected with a right wing cross for Hayes, but this was merely an intermission to Simba's chances. The next was crafted by Colin Luckett. Except that's a bit of a fancy description. Luckett threw the ball to him on the left and the rest was left to Gallic flair.

Simba collected the ball parallel with the edge of the penalty area and commenced his run across it. All the time he was looking for an opening, but when it came he was the only one who realised it had come. Before goalkeeper Gothard knew what was happening the ball had flown into the net. The shot came from about twenty yards with Simba's left foot, and it was struck so sweetly that Gothard wasn't even able to move as K's took a one-nil lead.

Hayes, who have been residing in the bottom half of the table for most of the season, weren't about to allow K's to do a "treble" over them this season though, and set about getting back into the game. A corner from the left was met by Dean Coppard but his shot was saved well by Farrelly. The ball rebounded to Charles, Luckett challenged and then Charles pushed him in the face. Obviously.

Luckett, unusually playing at right-back, tried to gain revenge by shooting wide. Well, he tried to gain revenge by scoring but got it all a bit wrong. You get it. Pitcher followed the effort with another shot which flew wide, although this one came closer. Lee Flynn bizarrely stamped on Junior Kadi and deservedly received a yellow card but it was Hayes who finished the half strongest.

A good run from Charles saw his play Steve McKimm in with Luckett in hot pursuit. Bodies flew, most notably that of McKimm and referee Mr J.Pettitt of Welling pointed to the spot. K's defenders were in apoplexy as Luckett stared open-mouthed, but the decision stood. Charles took the kick and did nothing to encourage the K's board to open their wallets with a woeful penalty slightly to Farrelly's right. The big man didn't disappoint and kept the visiting half of the score-sheet blank at the break.

Whilst the first half just about belonged to Kingstonian, the second half was truly a black and blue affair. In that Hayes were wearing black and blue. Lee Flynn went close early on, but better was to come for him. Substitute Mark Preston forced a great tip-over from Farrelly before K's finally got out of their half - some twenty minutes into the half. Eddie crossed from the right to Simba and the striker looked odds-on to score. The ball was sitting perfectly for a left-footed shot at goal, but instead, he tried to use his right and succeeded in only stabbing the ball wide.

Back to the other end though, and Hayes got the equaliser which they totally deserved, on 68 minutes. A free-kick was played in by Barry Moore on the right. Flynn jumped unopposed from near the left-hand post and headed a very simple goal. Worse almost followed when Preston again took a shot from long distance. This time the save from Farrelly was truly world class. Unfortunately his efforts proved to be wasted when the defence again allowed Charles room in the box, and this time he scored in the bottom-right to claim the lead for Hayes.

Kingstonian decided that they better at least try, and a chance fell to Pitcher. Basford had played in Simba, who headed back to Pitcher on the edge of the box. He controlled well and shot well, but Gothard did equally well to save low to his right. A later shot came in from Simba which was palmed towards Akuamoah, but he didn't quite manage to get to the rebound as a defender cleared. K's should have been awarded a penalty of their own just after, when a Simba cross was aimed at Mark Harris. Coppard put two hands into the K's man's back and pushed him just as he was trying to equalise. The referee decided not to award the penalty though and allowed Kadi to shoot wide.

Leworthy was introduced at this late stage, but he was unable to do much to help the cause. He did have one great chance, when Wingfield (another late introduction) played him in on the left side of the box. Leworthy headed the ball over Goodliffe and scampered around the Hayes defender to collect. The ball looked to be sitting perfectly for a Leworthy "lobster" special, but it then decided not to bounce and the effort that came in was a rather low lob - about two feet off the ground.

There was just time left for a third goal for Hayes, and they didn't waste the chance, as Mark Boyce crossed for Flynn to head his second. Once again the Kingstonian defence was notable in its absence as Farrelly tried to do the marking as well as the saving. And so the home season ended with a defeat, but much as it was last year, it doesn't really matter all that much. The team looked tired and the crowd didn't look all that interested (apart from the ones with the new yellow flags that is). We all know that the team can play better than that - let's just hope that they prove it in a couple of weeks' time.