Friday, I’m at K’s
Friday, I’m at Ks
“Grays away? On a Friday night? What?” said just about every Kingstonian fan after Ks’ annual trip to Aveley was rescheduled. As much as we love an Essex away day, Mill Field seemed no way to spend one of 2015’s last pre-winter evenings. But gradually it began to dawn on us: we could drink behind the goal, Dan Bennett was the equal of any entertainment available in fashionable Soho and we’d actually have a free Saturday!
And what a Friday night it was, from the first whistle to the final ‘Woah, nana,’ bash of the advertising hoarding, Kingstonian put in their finest performance of the season to beat second-placed Grays Athletic 3-1. And as it was a Friday night, let’s reflect on three beautiful points through the medium of song, and, as it was a Friday, songs from The Cure.
Just like heaven
The first half an hour was wonderful, as good as we’ve seen under Tommy Williams. The return of Pico gave the attacks a focal point and his wonderful effort from the edge of the area was unlucky to only find the inside of the post early in the contest. Sam Page and Peter Dean also missed good chances before a moment of magic from Dan Bennett led to a moment of ecstasy. The winger collected the ball on the right wing, stopped, nutmegged the left back, cut inside the centre back before firing low into the bottom corner. “Show me how you do that trick, the one that makes me scream.”
Disintegration
It wouldn’t be a midweek trip to Essex if Ks made it easy for themselves. As the second period began, they sat deeper and Grays began to camp in the Ks half. Eventually, the pressure told and as the hosts attacked down the right, the defense got sucked across, giving Roman Michael-Percil too much time on the left corner of the area to pick his spot and equalise. “It’s all come back round to breaking apart, breaking apart like we’re made of glass.”
Boys don’t cry
This Ks side are made of sterner stuff, and the introduction of Jake ‘Kempo’ Kempton changed the game. Despite the hosts dominating possession, Ryman veteran Sean Cronin cheaply gave away possession, allowing Kempo in and while Lamar Johnson got a hand to his strike, the power saw it nestle in the bottom corner. Friday night drinks flew, grassy confetti was thrown, it was Friday night and Ks were back. Poor Sean Cronin. “I try to laugh about it, cover it all up with lies.”
Friday, I’m in love
As the game entered a possibly nervy injury time, Kempo settled the nerves. As Grays poured on the pressure, Ks broke well through Ty Smith. Smith’s pullback found Kempton who didn’t give Johnson a chance. 3-1! A threatened pitch invasion! Friday night football!
“I don’t care if Monday’s blue, Tuesday’s grey and Wednesday too, Thursday, I can’t care about you, it’s Friday, I’m at Ks.”
