Brennan left unimpressed by K's
match report by Rupert Cane
Kingstonian slumped to an eighth defeat in nine league games with a dreadfully disappointing reverse at home to Wingate and Finchley, after which boss Dean Brennan questioned the mentality of his players.
The visitors, marooned in the relegation zone, took an early lead through Charlie Cole’s header and although Rhys Murrell-Williamson blasted the K’s level before half-time, Tanasheh Abrahams’ struck the decisive third goal with a quarter-of-an-hour to go. It ensured K’s will have gone at least three months between home victories in the Bostik Premier Division.
Cole’s opener stemmed from a well-worked move and he was unmarked to nod past the exposed Rob Tolfrey.
The home side responding positively to going behind and after good work from Delano Sam-Yorke, Louie Theophanous had a clear sight of goal but he could only hit the legs of Wingate’s friendly keeper Shane Gore.
Sam-Yorke then twice nearly converted close-range opportunities, before Charlie Ruff thumped Tolfrey’s bar with a sweetly-struck 30-yarder.
Dean Inman had to be at his best to prevent Reece Beckles-Richards doubling Wingate’s advantage against his former club. The defender had given the ball away on halfway but recovered commendably to make a last-ditch tackle as Beckles-Richards got his shot away.
Patient possession in midfield was the order of the day for K’s and it was rewarded with an equaliser before the break, when Murrell-Williamson, a tricky customer all afternoon, cut inside and bludgeoned an effort past Gore from the edge of the box.
The second half was a dour affair shorn of quality. Beckles-Richards missed a decent opening on the hour but K’s laboured badly and went behind with 15 minutes remaining when Abrahams fired in from outside the box.
By now K’s, who were by now without Theophanous and Sam-Yorke after they had been subbed off, had midfielders and defenders up front but it was to no avail. Wingate’s defence held firm and a lack of creativity showed leaving Brennan a very frustrated man indeed afterwards.
Kingstonian: Rob Tolfrey, Jonathan Muleba, Tom Bird, James Kaloczi, Dean Inman, Ismail Yakubu, Rhys Murrell-Williamson, Connor Smith, Delano Sam-Yorke, Louie Theophanous, Devonte Aransibia.
Subs: Aaron Lamont (for Louie Thephanous, 65m), Andrew Musungu (for Rhys Murrell-Williamson, 92m), Leo Chambers (for Delano Sam-Yorke, 74m), Sean Clohessy, Josh Kyte.
Wingate and Finchley: Shane Gore, Ola Williams, Layne Eadie, Donovan Makoma, Darnell Smith, Alieu Njie, Charlie Ruff, Irnti Rapai, Charlie Cole, Reece Beckles-Richards, Tanasheh Abrahams.
Subs: Luke Ifil (for Ola Williams, 59m), Tommy Tejan-Sie (for Charlie Ruff, 69m), Carl Stewart, Anthony Mendy (for Irnti Rapai, 73m), Gaz Dauti.
Goal scorers: Charlie Cole (12m, 0-1), Rhys Murrell-Williamson (40m, 1-1), Tanasheh Abrahams (75m, 1-2).
Attendance: 303, plus a Ted.
