K’s caught in the trawler net
A 13th league defeat on a freezing night this may have been but it was also a match in which K's partially redeemed themselves after weeks of indifferent displays.
Few can have expected such a rousing second-half with the home side a goal and a man down, following Andre McCollin's 30th minute red card - K's 10th of the season, a remarkable statistic for a side that is one of the cleaner in the Ryman.
Certainly, the men in red and white do not descend to the theatrics of Lowestoft right-back Blake Saker who, having been brushed by McCollin's flailing arm, collapsed to the ground clutching his face, where he stayed until the K's striker had been dispatched to the dressing room.
The Trawlermen promptly took the lead through a sensational Erkan Okay strike from outside the box. In truth, it was a deserved lead after Rob Tolfrey had made save after save to deny them - not the first time time this year he has rescued a struggling back four.
As the fans emerged for an expected second-half hammering, something peculiar began to happen. Lewis Taylor, Simon Huckle and Matt Pattison grabbed hold of the midfield and once Paul Vines and Wade Small were upfront, it was K's making the running. First, Small broke into the box and saw his right-foot shot hit a Lowestoft defender plum on the arm. No penalty, said referee and linesman. Then a goalmouth scramble led to the ball rolling agonisingly wide before Vines went clean through in the final minute but put his strike just past the post.
It would have been an extraordinary point. It might have just kept the playoff chase alive. But it has in any event restored some faith. Six points from Enfield at home and Hampton away this weekend and we could be just three points of fifth.
Report: Taimour Lay
