Kingstonian 0-2 Leigh RMI
BLACK TURNS BLAKE'S FACE RED

Any late arriving Kingstonian fans can be forgiven for thinking initially that the second Supporters' Club "Bring a friend for free" day had been a success. Sadly, the only reason for the lack of space around on the terraces was the fact that over half of the ground was out of bounds due to the ground redevelopments now taking place.

The hooped eleven which emerged from the tunnel was the same one that dispatched five past Stevenage, and hopes were high that the recent impressive run could be continued to send the Railwaymen home empty-handed from their first ever visit to Kingsmeadow. Sadly, after the ninety minutes were up, the visitors must have already been looking forward to their next visit. However many years away that may be......

Having said all of that, K's did start off very well. Just two minutes were on the clock when Wingfield set up Pitcher on the edge of the box. After last week's exploits he obviously fancied his chances, but Dave Feldgate got down well to his left to save. Pitcher's next chance was dispatched with less accuracy - this being the first chance for the ball-boys to try their luck in the construction site that is now the Athletics End.

Colin Luckett came close to adding to his double from last week when he collected a deflected pass from Phil Wingfield. His left footed shot zipped across the turf from the left, but again Feldgate got down well to save. But the good start was almost ruined when Geoff Pitcher displayed his greed by not passing when under pressure. Steve Jones nicked the ball and passed to Tony Black. With K's in retreat, Jones continued his run and got the ball back from his team-mate on the edge of the box. The shot was just wide, but K's realised that they wouldn't have it all their own way.

An early substitution for the visitors saw Ian Monk replace the ineffective Ged Kielty, and the change almost paid dividends straight away. A mistake from Mark Harris allowed Monk to pick the ball up and sprint through the space between defenders to a one-on-one with Adrian Blake. The goalkeeper came out on top, and did so too when Black followed up with a shot - but this one would have been ruled out for handball. But the suggestion was that Leigh were coming into the game more and more.

From this point until the break, K's really didn't get a look in. A terrible pass from Eddie Saunders went straight to Black and he ran straight through the heart of the defence to see his shot saved well by Blake. After this Monk crossed to Rob Trees, but he was put off from shooting by the attentions of Derek Allan. Yet Trees was given another chance just after when Black crossed from the left, but once again Blake proved his worth.

If anything, the best chance of the half came just before the break. A fine run by Monk culminated with a cut-back to Black who really should have scored from close range. Instead, he managed to loft the ball about twenty yards into the air with Blake coming out to catch. And so K's survived the onslaught to go in on level terms, but things had to change for the second period.

They didn't though. And it took just two minutes of the new half for the opening goal to come. Black picked up the ball on the right, chipped to the far post where Steve Jones beat Derek Allan in the air and headed home from close range.

The goal seemed to be the wake-up call that K's needed though, and the home side set about their task of pulling a goal back well. Almost immediately Eddie Akuamoah set up Sammy Winston, whose right footed chip just cleared the bar. A Mark Beard cross was then left by everybody, when any touch would have diverted the ball home. It finally dropped to Wingfield on the left, whose shot was wide.

A couple of corners almost provided K's with the equaliser - the first seeing a late clearance from Durkin, and the second seeing Mark Harris extend his neck to head against the top of the bar. Not long after and K's crafted the best chance yet. Gary Patterson crossed from the right and Winston shot over from just six yards out.

A double substitution saw the introductions of Messrs Boyce and Green, with Harris and Wingfield making way, but still K's couldn't find a way through. Pitcher went close from the edge of the box, and then Boyce crossed towards the far post. Ronnie Green jumped with Nicky Spooner and the Leigh defender did superbly well to head over from just two yards out to prevent the young K's man from opening his Conference account.

Leigh informed K's that they were still in the game when Jones shot wide after cutting in from the left, but the K's pressure continued. Eddie Saunders had a shot deflected and spilled by Feldgate, but nobody was following in to capitalise. And then Adrian Blake handed Leigh the points.

The keeper received a back-pass from Colin Luckett, and attempted to complete the one-two. Sadly Monk read his mind, nicked the ball, squared to Tony Black and ran over to the striker to congratulate him for scoring in the open goal. There were still nine minutes remaining, but the game was as good as over.

There was still time for Ronnie Green to head wide, for Winston to toe-poke over from the edge of the box and for Green to see his cross go not far past the post, but apart from that Leigh didn't have to sweat much.

On chances K's probably didn't deserve to lose, but lose they did. After scoring five at high-flying Stevenage, the attack seemed to be the least of the problems, but if anything, this match proves that Kingstonian still lack an out-and-out goalscorer. And it also proves that there is a long way to go before thoughts should be allowed to turn to knockout competitions.