Potters Bar Town match report
match report by Simon Grier
On a low key evening as Ks grappled off the field with what 'tier 2' Covid restrictions mean, they secured three points with a professional 1-0 win over Potters Bar Town.
With the bar closed and more fans choosing to stand in a bit of space down the side rather than in the main stand or behind the goal, the game lacked atmosphere throughout. But Hayden Bird's men gave the fans something to cheer about by holding on with ten men to beat a visiting side managed by ex-K Lee O'Leary.
It was nearly a nightmare start for Ks with the visitors missing a good chance in just the first minute. But Bird's men quickly settled down to test visiting goalkeeper Fred Burbidge.
In the seventh minute he had to make a double save from two powerful efforts by Kadell Daniel after a weighted through ball from Andre Coker. The saves left him writhing in pain, perhaps hitting him a little lower than he'd liked, but the game remained goalless.
Burbidge did well again a few minutes later to deny Corie Andrews with his legs, while Fabio Saraiva fired over from distance. But Ks failed to maintain their momentum in a first half that fizzled out, with Keegan Cole coming closest for the visitors with a 20-yarder.
Ks struck quickly after the break through when Tom Richards picked out Coker with a low cross. Coker was afforded far too much time and he put Ks ahead with a low finish from the edge of the box.
Daniel almost doubled Ks' advantage after getting in on goal only to see his effort rebound off the inside of the post.
But Ks failed to kill the game and the visitors looked increasingly dangerous as it got into the last 20 minutes. Former Ks Ben Ward-Cochrane had the ball in the net for Bar but his header was ruled out for offside and then Bird's side went down to ten men when Tom Kavanagh picked up a second yellow card as he broke up a counter-attack with a foul.
But Ks saw the game out professionally, the midfield creativity of Coker and Daniel sacrificed for the more circumspect Gus Sow and Tom Howard. Chances to wrap the game up were missed - Sow fired over and Ollie Cook headed a corner wide - but Ks were soon able to celebrate an important three points.
Kingstonian: Rob Tolfrey, Juevan Spencer, Fabio Saraiva, Simon Cooper, Ollie Cook, Tom Kavanagh, Kadell Daniel, Kenny Beaney, Corie Andrews, Andre Coker, Tom Richards.
Subs: Elliott Buchanan (for Corie Andrews, 77m), Omarr Lawson, Gus Sow (for Kadell Daniel, 69m), Tom Howard (for Andre Coker, 56m).
Potters Bar Town: Fred Burbidge, Ryan Young, Joe Payne, Keagan Cole, Luke Tingey, Callum Ellesley, Samson Esan, Thomas Gogo, Ben Ward Cochrane, Ken Charles, Nana Kyei.
Subs: Nathan Livings (for Callum Ellesley, 23m), Darion Furlong, Charley Barker, Franc Silinou (for Thomas Gogo, 34m), Reggie Hubbard.
Red card: Tom Kavanagh (85m, second caution)
Goal scorer: Andre Coker (49m, 1-0)
Attendance: 269
