K’s Lose Again at Kingsmeadow
It was often the case under Alan Dowson that Ks performed better on the road than at home, and this effect has been amplified under Tommy Williams. While only high-flying Maidstone can better Ks' two points per game away from Kingsmeadow, another lacklustre home defeat, this time to bottom club Harrow Borough, leaves them still mired in midtable.
Ks showed precious little creativity throughout a game of few chances, and despite looking marginally the better of two poor sides they went down to a single goal from a set piece.
In wasn't until the 23rd minute that anything of note happened. Josh Casey, whose attacking talents many feel are wasted covering at left-back, stole into the box and forced Nick Jupp into a smart save with a volley.
It was the start of a good spell for Ks but Daniel Sweeney fired well wide after Elvis Hammond saw his effort blocked. The sucker-punch came on 32 minutes as despite Rob Tolfrey saving well from Carl McCluskey, Nick Salapatas slammed home from the resulting corner.
Ks' best chance of the game came in first-half injury time, but Pico Gomes scuffed wide from close range.
Rather than an onslaught, the second half saw Ks generate even fewer chances. Marc Charles-Smith capitalised on a Ks defensive error to get through one-on-one, but Tolfrey saved superbly.
Hammond managed to get a fierce low drive on target from outside the box but Jupp was equal to it, saving sharply at the near post. Williams introduced Loick Pires for his debut but he too failed to make a significant impact and Jupp easily saved his late header from a Casey cross.
Tolfrey twice came up for late corners but Harrow, whose defence is second-worst in the league only behind Dowson's Hampton side, rarely looked like being breached. In fact it was the visitors who had the best chance late on when substitute Kamaron English broke free on the counter-attack but he pulled his effort wide of Tolfrey's goal.
Being good on the road and dreadful at home at least balances out at midtable security; but it does little to enthuse fans to come to Kingsmeadow or create a confident mood at the club. Williams will be looking for the magic formula to turn things around, starting against a Met Police side who have only one away win this term.
Match report by Simon Grier.
