Kingstonian 2-1 Sutton United
U COULDN'T BELIEVE IT

A very late goal by Bobby Traynor saw off local rivals Sutton as both sides fought to the end in a fiercely-contested Easter derby.

Photo: Chris Hatton - Kingstonian FC

Having lead from an own-goal right before the break, Kingstonian were pegged back in the 85th minute before Traynor's solo effort through the feet of U's keeper Kevin Scriven as the latter dived to the left of the striker.

Earlier Sutton skipper Jason Goodliffe opened the scoring when he chested the ball into the open net from 10 yards out as he faced the wrong way, having seen Mo Harkin's shot rebound off the far right post.

Photo: Chris Hatton - Kingstonian FC

The goal tally could have been more with Sutton often pressing and Ks on the attack too; and from the start the visitors were keenly on the offence. Craig Dobson's free kick in only the first minute curled straight to Rob Tolfrey. However gradually the defence began to marshal themselves further and further up the field.

Still it was Sutton that had the best chances, with Anthony Joseph shooting wide of the near post and then Alan Pouton was denied in a corner kick scramble by Tolfrey.

If the first half sounded a bit one-sided, it would do injustice to the defence and midfield but apart from Gray's free kick straight to the keeper there was little to show at the other end.

Finally at the other end Christian Jolley came closest in the 44th minute when he fashioned a shot which shot across goal. Then a minute later Hustwick did the same only for the ball to hit the far upright and bounce back to Goodliffe, alone and not under pressure.

Somehow the home side were a goal to the good at half-time. And the second half saw Ks continue. Traynor's cross in the 47th minute was just too strong for Carl Wilson-Denis and then minutes later his shot went over from in front of the goal.

At the other end Dobson's cross found Pouton but he was denied the equaliser when Tolfrey tipped the ball over the bar from close range. Then Simon Huckle headed over the bar once again in attack.

However the miss of the game fell to half-time substitute Charlie Taylor, when he tried to chip a beaten Tolfrey five yards out, after Tolfrey had stopped Steve Watts' shot. And then within minutes Tolfrey was plucking the ball out of the air from Francis Quarm's cross.

Respite for Tolfrey came as Wilson-Denis' powerful swivel, from a well-worked attack by Gray and Huckle, went straight to the keeper. Then a speculative 40-yard lob from Gray found the top of the net much to the relief of Scriven.

Time was starting to run out and Sutton tried to up their game for the final 10 minutes in search of an equaliser. James Hawes was unable to control the ball in from his brother Billy's cross and James shot wide of the near post. Then Watts minutes later was denied by Tolfrey, only for Taylor to make up for his earlier miss with the follow-up into the back of the net.

Immediately Wilson-Denis came off with Dean Lodge replacing him. His presence was felt soon after when in injury time with him on the floor, Huckle's weak shot was parried away for a corner. Gray's corner found Traynor's header but this went out via the top bar.

Photo: Chris Hatton - Kingstonian FC

Photo: Chris Hatton - Kingstonian FC

Photo: Chris Hatton - Kingstonian FC

Barely had Sutton restarted the game then referee Michael Ruffley, who seemed to content to play the game of advantage rather than one of stop-start, blew the final whistle.

Mindful of the adage that a game is not over until the final whistle has blown, once again Kingstonian fashioned out an unlikely win after similar joy at Aveley the previous Saturday.