Worthing match report
If one were to boil down and average out a typical Kingstonian game over the past few years, it might look something like the 3-1 defeat at Worthing. Here are a few of the all-too-familiar composite parts:
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• Plenty of
• possession
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• A good job
• of containing a dangerous opponent
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• Matching
• the opposition for territory but with a lack of cutting edge
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• Individual
• mistakes leading to goals.
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….and so the game went. Ks started well against their opponents who sat second in the league before play began. Leigh Dynan’s side pressed from the front, forcing 16-year-old backup keeper Aaron Relf in the home goal to go long repeatedly. The tactics seemed to be working as the Mackerel Men struggled to break down Ks backline initially, protecting their own stand-in glovesman, Sam Mason.
In fact, it was lower-ranking Kingstonian who came closest first, as Elliot Buchanan’s curling effort from 25 yards smashed against the bar and away. “If anything, he’s hit that too well,” came the cry from many. This was to be as close as Ks came to leading the game. Minutes later, Ollie Pearce was given a bit too much space down the Worthing right, and his low cross was neatly turned home by Callum Kealy. The Rebels (yes, Worthing have two nicknames) could have doubled their lead minutes later, before a scramble following a corner was cleared. However minutes before the break, Ks levelled. David Fitzpatrick’s cross was dangerous, and with Elliot Buchanan lurking, Alex Parsons could only chest the ball past Relf and the sliding Joel Colbran. While the goal was given to Buchanan, he didn’t touch it. God bless the Bostik.
The second half saw Worthing establish control as Ks’ pressing game began to slip. Suddenly, possession for the visitors was a rarity as Ks were forced to play on the break. Despite this, Fitzpatrick’s header from a ludicrously tight angle could given his side the lead. Eventually though, as happens, Ks succumbed to two fairly similar goals. Both times the gap between centre back and left back was too large. Both times a runner exploited this gap. Both times the runner beat Mason with a smart finish into the far post, first David Ajiboye, second Alex Parsons, to secure three points for the hosts. And while those goals sandwiched a bit of pressure for Kingstonian, as Louie Theophanous came close from a corner, Ajiboye’s deadlock breaker was the game’s crucial moment.
