Aveley 1-1 Kingstonian

A 53rd minute switch from wing-backs to 4-4-2 saw a dramatic improvement in Kingstonian's fortunes at relegation-threatened Aveley, but a series of missed chances and a difficult pitch ensured they would only come away from Essex with one point.

Both goals came in a fairly equal first half before Ks dominated the second. Sherwin Stanley fired over early on for Aveley, before Bobby Traynor could only drill a Paul Vines cross straight at Dave McCartney.

Traynor did better on 19 minutes, beating the goalkeeper to put Ks one to the good. Nicky Greene threaded the ball to Bashiru Alimi who squared for Traynor in a crowded penalty box, and despite McCartney getting a hand to his effort, the Ks talisman gave his side the lead.

Vines was denied a penalty shout after contact with Tony Russell and Tolfrey saved a long-range effort from Danny Slatter before the hosts equalised just before the interval. The goalkeeper could not parry Tammer Tuna's free kick away from the danger zone and Slatter reacted before the defence to level the scores on the rebound.

The withdrawal of Dolan and Greene for Antonio Gonnella and Sam Clayton proved the turning point in the match. Until that point, Ks had had two centre-backs with nobody to mark and a lack of width in attack against a home side with just one striker. As when Alan Dowson made a similar switch in the home game, the new shape helped Ks to create more but on this occasion they were unable to capitalise.

Traynor pounced on a mix-up at the back but could only fire straight at the goalkeeper, Sean Francis somehow managed to block a close-range Vines effort and McCartney parried away a Gonnella drive as the home side held on.

For Aveley, Francis and Stanley had missed the target with good chances but Ks looked far more dangerous in the final minutes. Allan Tait's header looped over McCartney only to clip the bar and in the Surrey team's final throw of the dice, the substitute striker was unable to get to a fantastic Traynor cross before Francis. Ks' performance had looked improved but their profligacy in front of goal meant they left Essex disappointed at what might have been.