Horsham YMCA 0-0 Kingstonian (abandoned)
WASHOUT

2006 began with Kingstonian in the midst of a fine run of form - a run of five consecutive league wins - but since peaking in May with the Surrey Cup Final win, the year has got steadily worse for K's and finished with a damp squib, both literally and metaphorically, as their trip to the league's form side Horsham YMCA was washed out after twenty-five goalless minutes.

Off the pitch Horsham YMCA still give the impression of being a county league side, which until promotion last season, they were. Their small ground, low crowds and even their name give the impression of not really being a Ryman League side and their heavy pitch never looked likely to be able to handle the persistent rain that afflicted the mid-Sussex town from lunchtime.

In truth though, they cannot be blamed for the waterlogged playing surface as even big clubs such as Watford and Northampton were beaten by the weather this day, not to mention their Premier Division neighbours Horsham FC whose match with Slough Town was also abandoned before half-time.

On the pitch it is a different story for YMCA though. Having won promotion last year and already humiliating K's by taking all three points away from Kingsmeadow in August, they went into the game top of the form guide with 16 points from their last 18. Stuart McIntyre may well have been relieved that the game was not completed while K's opponents were in such impressive form.

It could easily be argued that the game should never have kicked off at all. On a wet and heavy pitch the ball often struggled to roll far - a rare day on which Dean Lodge and Mazin Ahmad were not missed - while every time a player slipped or slid across the turf fans winced at the prospect of a serious injury.

What few good chances could be created from the quagmire mostly fell to the home side. Luke Garrard made an excellent save from Scott Kirkwood and then the Horsham man came even closer on fifteen minutes. He collected a misplaced pass by Julian Sills and rolled the ball past Garrard only to see it rebound off the post and cleared by Steve Symes.

K's only two chances came through Scott Corbett. First he volleyed wide from twenty yards and next he slid in well to direct a Jon Coke cross goalwards. On another day it may have snuck inside the far post but instead it stuck in the wet goalmouth and eventually the referee gave up on the farcical match as the rain further intensified.

When K's return to try and complete the game again, they will be hoping that their own form has improved and Horsham's has tailed off or they could be in for another difficult day.