Staines Town 3-2 Kingstonian
Swanning Around

A visit to Staines' redeveloped Wheatsheaf Park saw Kingstonian involved in a thrilling Ryman Premier League match filled with players facing their old club.

Kingstonian's current longest servants - by some way - returned to the starting line-up, with manager Scott Steele making his first start in a month and Bashiru returning from injury to slot in at left back. Marien Ifura was given his first start at the centre of defence, with Reading's Ahmet Rifat moving to right back. Captain Richard Taylor, James Rose and substitute Daniel Collyer lined up against their former club, whilst latest signings Glenn Boosey and Gareth Hall were also on the bench.

Little introduction was required for a Staines side packed with former K's players. The defensive unit comprising of Mark Jones, Peter Barnsby, Matt Flitter and Julian Sills alone amassed 246 appearances in the red & white hoops - compared with the 272 mustered by the entire Kingstonian matchday squad. Also starting was a K's player of much briefer tenure in Elliot Onochie, whilst youngsters Jon McDonald and Jon Henry-Hayden on the bench were products of the Kingstonian Academy.

A bright opening saw goalkeeper Matt Lovett's handling tested by Steele and Phil Ruggles, whilst the midfield unit, driven by Giles Coke and Martyn Lee in the middle, drove forward at every opportunity.

Lovett was called off his line on a couple of occasions to deny the K's threat, but was almost caught out when half-parrying a Mazin Ahmed free kick in front of goal. With Ruggles about to swoop, the goalkeeper just managed to scramble the ball away.

The opening goal came in the twentieth minute when Steele worked his way down the left channel before lifting a pin-point ball across the face of goal for James Rose to nod home his first goal for the club.

The lead was almost doubled minutes later when Lee played a neat ball through to Ruggles, who dug the ball out of his feet to strike an effort that was well tipped over by Lovett.

Mark Jones went close for Staines with a free kick that didn't miss the target by much and Paul Ellis was denied by a smart block by Marien Ifura in the box. The Swans were enjoying a good five minute spell around the half hour mark.

K's goalkeeper Barry Marchena was called into action to divert a Michael Harper header over the crossbar after Andre DeLisser had delivered a cross from the right.

The threat at the other continued. Rose found himself unmarked in the box to receive a Bashiru Alimi cross, only to direct his header straight at Lovett.

The Staines defence were once again caught on their heels when a whipped Mazin Ahmed delivery was met by a running Giles Coke header that fizzed just past the upright.

With four minutes left until the interval, the margin was finally doubled when Rose took advantage of a Peter Barnsby error to fire an excellent goal, via the inside of the post, to double his tally.

The game seemingly picked up where it had left off at the other side of the half time break when Steele stole himself down the left once more, only to see his attempted cross blocked by the arm of Barnsby. The resulting penalty was struck by Phil Ruggles, but well saved to his left by Matt Lovett.

Minutes later Elliot Onochie was felled in the other box by Ahmet Rifat and referee David Buck pointed to the spot once more. This time Staines, through Paul Ellis, were unable to take advantage as he shot just wide of the target.

The match was still however turning, and when Andre DeLisser robbed Barry Marchena he tried to shepherd a loose ball out for a goal kick, along came Staines' first goal in the game courtesy of DeLisser's neat tight-angled finish.

With almost the next move of the game, the scores were levelled. Kevin George lifted an angled ball over the top of the Kingstonian defence for Mark Jones, playing in a more advanced position, to race onto and smash past Marchena.

The game tightened but DeLisser was able to notch up his second goal of the game to put Staines ahead with a quarter of an hour left when converting a Jon Henry-Hayden cross from close range at the far post.

Despite the efforts of Ruggles and substitute Martyn Williams, K's were unable to salvage a point from what had for so long seemed destined to be their game.

The way everything happened made the result all the more disappointing. The first half promised so much, with the side looking an effective attacking unit - and from that positives can be drawn. Slowly but surely the team is improving, but in order to get the much needed points they must eradicate the type of second half play that cost them this game.