Kingstonian 4-2 Billericay Town
TRAYNOR PULLS A TRICK OUT OF THE HAT

A Bobby Traynor hat-trick shrugged off the no-score draw on Saturday as Kingstonian ran out worthy winners against Billericay.

And it could have been more for last season's Golden Boot - but with the hosts pushing forwards throughout the first half they had to wait until the 20th minute when Dean Lodge sliced open the defence from the midfield to find Traynor able to chip former Ks' goalkeeper Ashlee Jones.

Within seven minutes Jones was beaten again by Adam Thompson after Traynor went from poacher to provider as the defence became indecisive. But with the scores level - Traynor had to step up to the spot twice, as Lodge was felled twice at the end of the match, to despatch two penalties for the win.

And to compound the blues for Ricay - visiting midfielder Cedric Ngakam was sent off in the 86th minute as he upended Max Hustwick.

The first home game of the season, in front of 385, did not take much time to warm the early Autumn air when new signing Tobi Jinadu got a head to Matt Gray's free kick within the first four minutes but Ashlee Jones, who was in the Ks goal last autumn, was able to hold on to the incoming ball. At the other end Rob Tolfrey found Evans Kouassi's shot just as easy to handle.

However it was not until the 20th minute that deadlock was broken and not surprisingly it was Bobby Traynor who found the back of the net with a deft chip over Jones. Dean Lodge sliced open the defence with a long pass from the Ks half to Traynor.

Within minutes it could have been two as Adam Thompson found Traynor unmarked but Jones was able to hold back the Traynor tide from close range. However the poacher was then able to become provider when he crossed into the defence and indecision from keeper and defender Getro Kilapi allowed Thompson to strike the ball with venom into the goal.

However the visitors were soon able to claw back a goal very quickly when defender Dave Collis shot from distance past Tolfrey. However with the first half ending a rebounded Thompson cross fell to Gray but he was unable to put any power into it.

The second half saw another goal and once again it was the visitors who scored, this time to level the game, in the 48th minute. A cross from Danny Charge out on the left seemed goalward bound and Leon McKenzie was on hand to ensure that the ball was in the back of the net.

Thereafter Ks began to assert themselves and Lodge was denied by Jones four minutes later, Max Hustwick headed onto the crossbar before Jones then got a late hand to Gary MacDonald's header. And to round off a period of pressure Gray's free kick in from the left finally beat Jones in the far corner only for offside to be blown.

The visitors hit back when sub Ryan O'Rawe marked his entry into the game with a header over the bar from close range. However it was a mere intermission as within a minute Lodge probed deep into the penalty area only to be bought down Chris Wild. Traynor stepped up and duly despatched the penalty.

From there on in the visitors were on the back foot as Lodge was denied within minutes from Traynor's cross in as Jones got to the ball first. Then Ngakam bought down Hustwick on the halfway line and was sent to the baths early with a straight red card.

And deep in injury time Hustwick combined with Lodge in the penalty area only for Lodge to be bought down by two defenders. Once more Traynor stepped up and scored his third and Ks' fourth to secure the win.

Two games in to a season do not make a championship but Kingstonian have started the season with a win and a draw. Of more comfort was the fact that the team came from conceding two quick goals to gain the initiative and win and in between create further chances.