Kingstonian 1-0 Walton & Hersham
Tommy Williams asserted that with Luke Garrard in goal and Bobby Traynor up front K's will be all right, but, not for the first time in recent weeks, it was Traynor's strike partner Carl Wilson-Denis who was on target to secure K's the points this time. Garrard was equally heroic in a game where there were numerous chances at both ends but only K's were able to take one, a result that returned them to the top of the league table.
Photo: Chris Hatton - Kingstonian FC
After a slow start to the game, Scott Hassell and Matt Elverson both did well to thwart early Traynor efforts. Elverson picked up a booking for a foul on Wilson-Denis, which would prove costly later on when he received a second caution, with Adam Thompson powering the resultant free kick over the crossbar and perhaps halfway across the Cambridge Estate.
Walton, perhaps sniffing blood in the guise of K's stuttering home form, had come for three points and Garrard did well to keep his sheet clean in the 25th minute, denying Zak Graham a good opportunity before Nick Rundell picked up the pieces by clearing to safety.
Wilson-Denis' strength allowed him to cross for Dean Lodge two minutes later but the winger, yet to score since returning for a fourth spell at Kingsmeadow, blazed over Antony Hall's goal. K's squandered another good chance in first-half injury time, when Traynor headed an exquisite Liam Collins cross into the ground and it bounced up over the crossbar.
Julien Thompson, one of four ex-K's in the visiting line-up, had a great chance after the break but was thwarted by the covering Max Hustwick before Jordan Cheadle also came close for the Swans and Garrard made an extraordinary save to keep K's in the lead. At the other end, Hall saved a Collins header and Elverson got enough on a Lodge effort to slow it down and give his goalkeeper an easy save.
Photo: Chris Hatton - Kingstonian FC
Elverson had had an excellent game for Walton, using his experience to be in the right place at the right time and snuff out many potential K's attacks. On 77 minutes the game changed, however, when prone on the ground he handled to prevent Traynor breaking down the right. The referee had little choice but to send him off and perhaps as a result of Walton not having time to re-organise, Wilson-Denis popped up unmarked to head Rundell's free kick home at the far post.
Photo: Chris Hatton - Kingstonian FC
Photo: Chris Hatton - Kingstonian FC
A minute later Traynor was controversially booked for an alleged dive in the penalty area. Wilson-Denis twice came close to doubling the advantage but in injury-time disaster threatened to strike for the second time in three days for K's.
Photo: Chris Hatton - Kingstonian FC
Three Walton players lined up at the far post to meet a deep, hanging, cross but with Garrard looking horribly exposed, Rundell bravely threw himself at the ball to somehow clear the danger. The act of courage meant he had to be helped off the pitch with an injury and replaced by Jon Coke but it also ensured that K's hung on to secure a vital win and get back to the summit of the league.
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