Clacton Town 2-3 Kingstonian
SEASIDE BANANA SIDESTEPPED

After the horrors of last year's FA Cup defeat at the hands of Brockenhurst at the same stage of the world's most glamorous (apart, perhaps, from Miss World) cup competition, it was with some trepidation that Kingstonian's supporters headed North, then East, then a bit South for an afternoon by the seaside. Steve Sedgley - cup winner in 1991 lest we forget - was in charge for the very first time in the competition, and would not have been happy having to wait another twelve months for his second.

Thankfully, as the Essex sun set low over The Rush Green Bowl, it was the boys from Surrey who were celebrating their continued participation in this season's FA Cup, with the Jewson Eastern League team happy that they'd made a good game of it. And that they did.

Photo: kingstonian.net

The match started in the perfect fashion for K's - with a goal after very little effort. Dave Clarke played a pass down the right wing for Greg Ball, whose cross was headed away before Ronnie Green - in for the not-yet-fully-fit Tim Sills - could connect. The ball dropped to Craig Lewington who controlled with his first touch and shot with his second. The effort was on target, but goalkeeper Darren Gould turned the ball away to his right. The ball dropped some two yards out from goal only for defender and captain Mark Bailey to inexplicably send the ball exactly where he was trying to prevent it from going, slicing it into the net for the opening goal. After the match Lewington tried to claim the goal. Everyone laughed at him. OG all the way.

The opening fifteen minutes were all Kingstonian. Liam Collins saw one shot well saved by Gould at the near post, and just afterwards an even better save was required when Collins' cross was deflected up only for the winger to volley the rebound towards the top corner.

Photo: kingstonian.net

But just as thoughts were turning to Monday morning's draw, the match took on a different face. Lenny Pack took a throw on the Clacton right to Ian Brown, he gave it back to Pack who then played a one-two around Sean Thurgood with the same player. The full-back was by now in the K's area, and with nothing in front of him he unleashed a pile-driver past Lance Key to equalise.

Some furrowed brows appeared around the perimeter of the pitch, as memories of last year re-surfaced, but K's reinstated their lead within seven minutes. Ball played in Collins on the right, and his cross was met by the diving head of Dave Clarke who headed past Gould's outstretched right-hand to hand the lead back to K's.

Photo: kingstonian.net

Ball came close to extending the lead just before the break, but he struck the near-post after a fine run from Matt Flitter of all people. He found himself alone on the right-wing and was disappointed when his cross went off for a goal-kick via Ball's boot and Gould's upright.

The introduction of Tim Sills for Mark Jones at half-time signalled that two-one was really not what was expected, and the change in personnel seemed to be what was required. The third goal came twenty minutes in, and it was substitute Sills who claimed it. Greg Ball received the ball on the left just inside the Clacton half, a one-two with Clarke set him free further up the field, and he had plenty of time to pick out Sills in the middle. The resulting header (below) was never going to be stopped by Gould, and K's celebrated their progress to round three of the qualifying stages.

Photo: kingstonian.net

But determined to enjoy their day until the end, Clacton did manage to make the final few moments worrisome for the travellers. A corner on the left was half cleared only for it to be sent back in to Sean Hillier. His shot was superbly stopped by Key, but the rebound fell to Cameron Gove who smashed the ball home to halve the deficit.

Amara Simba had long since departed the scene after failing to make much of an impact against his old club and Richard Cox missed a late chance for The Seasiders before the match was brought to a halt. This wasn't the most impressive of displays from K's, but winning when not playing your best is not exactly a bad habit to get into. And the team are, of course, still unbeaten as we enter October.