Selsey 1-4 Kingstonian
"...OH I DO LIKE TO BE BESIDE THE SEL-SEY..."

Kingstonian made an encouraging start to pre-season by recording a 4-1 win over Sussex League side Selsey. K's had two big name additions to last year's squad in goalkeeper Chuck Martini and defender Julian Sills. Those two joined a mix of trialists and members of last year's side to comfortably dispatch Selsey in front of a travelling contingent of around 100 K's fans.

The opening goal came on twenty minutes thanks to some positive running from Tony Reid. Having got himself into a strong position he unselfishly squared the ball for Mazin Ahmad and the winger easily tapped the ball into the open goal.

K's doubled their advantage on the half-hour mark. Trialist Brahim Eloumani tried his luck from twenty yards and Selsey's goalkeeper was deceived by an awkward bounce as the ball went into the bottom right hand corner. Just before half time K's went three up. Ben Yiadom was fouled after a useful run down the left but he still managed to get a low cross in. The referee played advantage and Tony Reid was left with an easy finish from around the penalty spot.

In the second half K's replaced many of their stars with trialists and the game was a scrappier affair. An historical moment occurred on seventy minutes as Martini was replaced with teenage stopper Paul Brady - the first of hopefully many products of K's Youth to make an appearance in the first team. Unfortunately for Brady his first touch was to pick an excellent free kick out of the net - Selsey's number 3, curiously nicknamed "Bingo", curling an unstoppable set piece into the top corner.

Brady showed his worth shortly afterwards though by saving a close range volley in acrobatic fashion. Shortly afterwards K's added some gloss to an anaemic second half performance when Reid scored a neat goal from the edge of the box. The goalkeeper got a touch to the ball but was unable to keep the left-footed drive out of the net.

All in all it was a good display by K's but fans should not get over-excited by the result. Selsey are an amateur side well below the Ryman League and K's will soon have to deal with tougher opposition. Nonetheless as the cliche goes you can only beat what is put in front of you - and K's did that very comfortably. The defence, marshalled by Sills, looked solid while the side showed great composure in front of goal at the other end. Only time will tell though as to whether this form will be continued against tougher opposition.