Hastings United 0-0 Kingstonian
BATTLE LINES DRAWN
Kingstonian returned from their last trip to the sunny south coast this season with a mini-slump left behind as they held off fellow play-off contenders Hastings for their first no-score draw of the season.
With the Us looking for a Norman-style victory to keep their hopes alive, the visitors were firmly under the cosh at the start of the game but Rob Tolfrey was able to keep the shots from the eye of the goal with a top draw performance.
On five minutes the shot stopper was stopped himself as he collided with Francis Duku and Hastings' Ross Treleaven but was able to resume after treatment. Treleaven then found Michael Phillips in the area only for Tolfrey to throw himself at the goalward-bound shot.
Treleaven was next to be denied when his header was pushed away again by Tolfrey. This was then powered back straight in by Russell Eldridge but once again Tolfrey was more than equal.
Eldridge was once again denied after John Fletcher was caught out minutes later 20 yards out but Tolfrey was once again on hand to deny the shot. In-between at the other end his counterpart Steve Williams was in actions when Christian Jolley's powerful run up the wing ended in a shot that was pushed away for a corner.
Treleaven's next two attacks ended up being cut out by Adam Thompson and Fletcher, but a pass from him also found itself converted into a shot by Sam Adams but once again Tolfrey was there.
The half ended with another attack - but this time it was Matt Gray and Ks rather than the Us. His free kick was easily plucked out of the air.
If the visitors were expecting some respite for the second half they were to be disappointed as battle ensued again.
In the 50th minute Treleaven was once again harrying the back and his cross found Sean Ray but Tolfrey managed to push it away before a goal line scramble ended up in a free kick given against Treleaven.
Adams then was denied by Tolfrey again after he picked up a cross just after the hour from Treleaven and that was as good as it was going to be for the hosts as, having weathered the invasion, Ks began to push them back to the sea.
With Bobby Traynor seeking out a long ball from Luke Hickie, only a brave header out of his area by Williams denied a certain counter punch.
Hastings were not finished but a free kick straight to Tolfrey and then a shot across the goal area was about as much as they could muster.
In injury time Dean Lodge, only just on for Traynor, found Carl Wilson-Denis in the area. Williams blocked his shot only for Jolley's powerful shot on the rebound to be stopped by Williams again.
With both sides needing a win to maintain hopes of play-offs, a hard-fought draw gave Ks a welcome fillip after a run of three defeats. The resolve from the defence ensures that given a win at home to Maidstone will extend their season at least for another game afterwards.
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Sat 17th Apr 2010 |
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The Pilot Field |
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715 |
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Isthmian League Premier |
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Hastings United | 0 |
Kingstonian | 0 |
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1 | Rob Tolfrey | | |
2 | John Fletcher | | |
3 | Bashiru Alimi | | |
4 | Adam Thompson | | |
5 | Francis Duku | | |
6 | Simon Huckle | | |
7 | Matt Gray | | |
8 | Mo Harkin | | 15 |
9 | Bobby Traynor | | 16 |
10 | Luke Hickie | | |
11 | Christian Jolley | | |
12 | Lee Hall | | |
14 | Max Hustwick | | |
15 | Carl Wilson-Denis | | 8 |
16 | Dean Lodge | | 9 |
17 | Luke Garrard | | |
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Michael Underwood |
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