Margate 2-1 Kingstonian
K'S LEAVE GATE OPEN FOR LATE WINNER

For the second week in a row, Kingstonian lost to an injury time strike, this time going down 2-1 at Margate in an unentertaining game at Hartsdown Park.

The game started at a tremendous pace, with both sides scoring in the first ten minutes, before fizzling out into a dull long-ball fest as the players struggled in the wind and failed to impose any quality on the game.

The home side struck first. Luke Garrard did well to tip away a Joe Healy free kick, but from the resulting corner, George Jeremy was unmarked and managed to volley home from close range with embarrassing ease.

Ks struck back almost immediately, however. Jack Haverson's header to clear a Lewis Cook cross was weak and Matt Gray lashed a powerful volley home from the edge of the box on his left foot, in what could be an early contender for goal of the season.

The game failed to live up to the promise of entertainment which the opening minutes had provided, however. Cook and Wayne Wilson both missed the target and Margate came close with a header but the remainder of the half was a mostly frustrating affair, with neither side affording the other the space to play the passing football that the blustery conditions warranted.

The second half started with Francis Duku being lucky not to concede a penalty before Gray fizzed a shot across goal from an incredibly acute angle. Even the introduction of Dean Lodge, benched after a midweek sojourn to go on trial at York City, could not unlock the Gate's defences although Carl Wilson-Denis came close from twenty yards.

In fact it was the home side who looked more likely to take the win. K's did well to scramble away an effort from barely-remembered ex-K Akwasi Edusei and Garrard did well to save from him again five minutes later.

Ks had a shout for a penalty but the referee correctly decreed that Liam Harwood had not fouled Lodge after the two went shoulder-to-shoulder in the penalty area.

As Ks tired though, if anyone was going to win the game it was Margate. They fizzed an effort narrowly wide five minutes from time before finally sealing the win in injury time. Max Hustwick tested Garrard with a back-header from a tricky cross, and although the Ks goalkeeper did well to prevent the own goal, skipper Lloyd Blackman was on hand to bundle the rebound in and leave Ks cursing a lack of stamina and concentration for a second consecutive week.