Kingstonian 0-2 Ford United
STALLING TACTICS

With both sides immediately next to one another in the league table, a tough game was expected against a Ford side whose physical nature had proved difficult to deal with last season - something possibly reflected in Kim Harris' team selection, with Liam Collins moving up front and Craig Lewington coming in to add strength to the midfield.

The visitors' lineup saw Simon Clarke, on loan from Chelmsford, starting for his debut along with Craig - son of manager, Craig - Edwards. On the bench was music star Michael "MC" Harvey, briefly a K's player last time around in the Ryman League.

The opening period did little to raise the temperature on a freezing cold pre-winter evening. The first move of note came on the quarter hour mark when Bashiru Alimi linked with Scott Smith on the left to play the ball in to Mark Beard, whose header was a comfortable take for visiting 'keeper Jamie Lunan.

The half progressed without much incident in either penalty area and became somewhat bogged down in a tough midfield battle.

As the interval approached came a clear cut chance for Ford to break the deadlock, a square ball allowing Alex Fiddes an opening in the middle of the K's area. The midfielder fired his shot wastefully over the bar and so the scores remained level.

An inevitably livelier second half started badly for K's when ten minutes in a John O'Sullivan header from a corner somehow worked its way across goal and into the bottom of the net for the opening goal. Lance Key was called into action just after, saving at Craig Edwards' feet.

Midway through the half came the chances that could on another day swung the game totally around. Stafford Browne flicked a ball over to Bashiru Alimi whose shot past Lunan was cleared off the line and just over the bar by Dean Chandler.

Browne was again at the heart of the action in the following move, breaking free in almost typical fashion, but unlike recent games failing to beat goalkeeper Lunan who saved well with his legs.

Barely a minute later Grant Payne, on as a substitute, picked up the ball on the edge of the box and struck a fierce arrow-like shot destined to tuck inside the far post, only for Lunan to make an excellent fingertip save. The unfortunate Payne then saw his following strike go wide of the post after being fed by a lively looking Dave Timothy - off the bench to make his K's debut.

Almost on the final whistle, with K's seeking the elusive goal, Ford sealed the game after a Craig Edwards run allowed the dangerous Mervyn Abraham to bag a goal, driving home low at the near post.

Not the result that was hoped for after the weekend, yet although Ford may be an unfashionable outfit they are certainly an efficient one.