Kingstonian 1 Lowestoft Town 0

Att 552

Teams:-
Kingstonian: Tolfrey, Goode, Hogg, Drage (Okojie 54 mins), Page, Pappoe, Sweeney, Laidler, Moss (Ofusu-Hene 80 mins), McCollin, Casey (Knight 67 mins)
Subs; Okojie, Ofusu-Hene, Knight, Akinde, Faith

Lowestoft Town: Jones, Williams, Gleeson (Haynes-Brown 54 mins), Gaughran, Smith, Jack Ainsley (Bammant 79 mins), Jarvis, Okay, Eagle, Henderson, Reed (Frew 88 mins)
Subs; Haynes-Brown, Stuart Ainsley, Frew, Bammant, Jessup

In a tight game with both defences on top, Kingstonian take advantage of an unfortunate slip in the Lowestoft area by Eagle to fire home and win 1-0.

With both teams in the mix for a play-off place it really was a six-pointer of a game in a fixture that Lowestoft won 1-0 last season. Lowestoft came in to the game with goals coming from all areas of the pitch, whereas the large majority of goals for Kingstonian have come via McCollin or Moss; so the Lowestoft defence were looking to keep them quiet.

The Lowestoft team arrived later than usual due to hold ups on the M25 and were still missing Fisk from the squad. Williams however retained his place after coming through Tuesday with no ill affects.

The game got underway on another pretty decent surface at 3:07pm, following a minutes silence and a delayed kick-off as a mark of respect for the anniversary of Hillsborough.
Right from the off the travelling Lowestoft fans were in full voice and right behind the side.
The game was about five minutes old when Jack Ainsley put a low ball into the box from the right and Sweeney had to slide in to block for Kingstonian but came close to putting it the wrong side of the post.
Lowestoft were starting to work the space nicely early on, as Eagle flashed an effort across goal and the blues started to impose themselves. Lowestoft were looking confident on the ball and even when Kingstonian were in possession, Lowestoft were containing them pretty well. Williams was getting forward on plenty of occasions to support Jack Ainsley on the right and apply some early impetus in the opening fifteen minutes.
Both defences were looking comfortable though, as Henderson worked his way across the box from the right and pulled an effort past the foot of the post from the edge of the area.
The great vocal support for Lowestoft continued to bellow out and as the half hour mark arrived it was Lowestoft who were clearly winning the battle but they just needed to be patient to get a breakthrough against a solid defence. Reed was finding things frustrating on a personal level, as his usual high quality first touch was deserting him as of yet.
Kingstonian hadn't shown any real threat to their play but as McCollin charged through the middle he hit a thunderous shot that looked as if it was swerving inside the post but Jones was a full stretch, diving to his right to make an outstanding save and push it onto the post.
Lowestoft brushed the chance off for the home side though and were straight back on the offensive as Jack Ainsley was involved again, combining well with Henderson to work an opening but the alert defence were there to cut it out.
Moments later a lovely dinked ball over the top from the edge of the area by Henderson saw Reed finally find his touch to bring it down nicely in the box but Drage was across well to defend and see the ball behind for Kingstonian.
As the half started to draw to a close the home side were seeing a spell of possession and Lowestoft were looking a bit sloppy but the blues defence was solid and as the halftime whistle sounded it was a case of both defences winning the day at the break.

Kingstonian came out for the second half on the front foot but it was Lowestoft who made the first chance with Henderson and Reed breaking through together but with Reed taking the ball up and heading into the area, he stumbled and was unable to get a strong effort away at goal.
The next ten minutes were very stop and start with a few free-kicks, Gleeson replaced by Haynes-Brown following a head injury and then Kingstonian bringing on Okojie for Drage.
It was a game that looked like it would need something special to win it and with Reed touching the ball off to Jack Ainsley on the edge of the box, that moment looked like arriving but the placed shot by Ainsley saw the keeper get a great hand to it, to turn it over the bar.
Since being introduced Okojie had given the Kingstonian midfield some flair and creativity but for all his input the home side were struggling to break down the Lowestoft defence and both sides were now resorting to more long ball tactics.
Another great chance came the way of Jack Ainsley after Reed had latched onto a poor pass at the back but with the ball being laid back to him from Reed, Ainsley hit a very poor effort that failed to trouble the keeper at all.
The Lowestoft faithful were in full voice again as they sensed a possible breakthrough and with Eagle and Jarvis working the ball across to Jack Ainsley, he crossed to find Reed at the far post but with him losing his balance he was unable to get a good enough purchase on the ball as it went right at the keeper.
Kingstonian made their second change and Reed was starting to make himself a bit of a nuisance but it wasn't quite clicking for Lowestoft as the final fifteen minutes approached.
Smith tried a low one from fully thirty yards for Lowestoft but the keeper was behind it and the game was starting to look like a goalless draw was on the cards. That was until a moment of real misfortune struck for Lowestoft at the back, in which they paid the ultimate price. As the ball found its way to Eagle at the back and on the edge of the box, the Lowestoft midfielder stood on the ball and stumbled, allowing Okojie to latch onto it and give Jones no chance, firing it home for 1-0 (75 mins). Okojie had been lively since coming on and was all over the pitch, so it was no surprise to see him take the chance and the plaudits for his team, who celebrated in the dugout and in the stands.
A booking for Jack Ainsley was quickly followed by him being replaced by Bammant, as Lowestoft went in hunt of an equaliser. Kingstonian responded with a change of their own as Ofusu-Hene replaced Moss and the home side were working hard as a unit to keep Lowestoft out. A further Lowestoft change saw Frew replace Reed and the game moved into five minutes of stoppage time.
It was all hands at the pump for Kingstonian as Eagle drove into the box for Lowestoft and the home defence had to block a couple of efforts from the blues. The defence held firm though and on the whistle scenes of jubilation ensued for the home crowd as Kingstonian took a vital three points.

In a way it had been an unlucky way to lose a game for Lowestoft but they had enough chances to win or at least draw the game, however struggled to find the clinical edge in front of goal again.

Man of the Match for Lowestoft was Curtley Williams. He's had to endure a number of frustrating weeks with an injury that kept flaring up but came back solidly on Tuesday and was excellent today. He showed what a great engine he has in getting forward on a number of occasions to support Jack Ainsley in an offensive sense but also in getting back to make a couple of strong interceptions defensively.

The vocal support by the travelling Lowestoft fans was superb and as a club it's a case of dusting ourselves down and going again on Tuesday. Our play-off rivals still have to play each other over the coming fixtures and there are plenty of twist and turns remaining, with Lowestoft still in the hunt.

Terry Bullen