Windsor & Eton 1-0 Kingstonian
Lewis Cooks a Fine Finish

The Royal surrounds of Windsor were the setting for his Ryman Premier Division fixture against early form side Windsor & Eton.

With the pre-match talk dominated by the resignation of Kingstonian manager Kim Harris, Scott Steele took charge of team affairs and named the same starting eleven that played at Salisbury midweek.

The Windsor side, as expected, included a number of ex-league players with Wycombe, but it was Kingstonian who had the first clear chance of the game. Reggie Savage found an opening on the edge of the box but was unable to control his shot as it flew over the goal.

The home side almost immediately started to build their momentum. Tony Reid found himself with only Lance Key in the K's goal to beat but sent his shot trickling past the far post.

The alarm bells started ringing when Adam Mansueto bore down on goal from the right wing before releasing a goal-bound strike that was unnecessarily touched in by the offside Keith Scott.

A goal was not long in coming and in the fourteenth minute Lewis Cook cut inside from the left wing before striking a stunning effort high across goal into the top corner, nestling into the back of the net off the angle of the goal frame.

The rest of the half proved to be testing times for the Kingstonian rearguard as the home side piled the pressure on. They did however manage to hold out, despite an injury to Matt Bradford - was replaced by the commanding figure of debutant Richard Taylor, allowing only Lee Kersey to get another clean strike at Key - one which the goalkeeper was able to hold.

Australian right back Frazer Muscat showed that he is willing to take a strike on goal when presented with the opportunity, firing a couple of efforts at goal before the break.

Photo: kingstonian.net

The second half started brightly for K's and Reggie Savage. The diminutive striker found himself a space in the box though was just denied by Chuck Martini coming rushing out of his goal to smother the attack.

Morgan Gomis threatened for the home side with a penetrating run but was unable to control his shot as it flew over the bar. Paul Holsgrove saw a low drive from the edge of the box collected by Key as his side were increasingly restricted in their chances.

An Aaron Gilbert cross from the left was almost met by Martyn Williams diving in at the near post but some brave defending denied the K's substitute. Williams was again denied, this time on the deck, by an excellent block challenge by Kersey in the area.

K's almost struck an equaliser in the final minute when a Liam Collins corner came out to Matt Pattison, who controlled the ball just inside the box before striking low towards the bottom corner of the net, only to be denied by substitute Ian Dickens' lunging block in front of goal.

The first half was a tough time for K's as Windsor piled on the pressure, but, having kept the hosts down to a single goal, the second period was cause for optimism. Richard Taylor's physical presence is something that should strengthen the defence whilst Giles Coke looks an increasingly promising player. The side never gave up on this game and were ultimately unlucky not to take any points away from it.