Kingstonian 1 Leatherhead 1
Leatherhead shared the points with Kingstonian in an absorbing end to end 1-1 draw
on a heavy pitch at Raynes Park on Saturday.
Ks went ahead against the run of play just before half time through their leading goal
scorer Eddie Simon, before Tanners levelled in the second half with a well taken goal
from Lukas Franzen-Jones.
Leatherhead were the more creative side in the opening half, but they failed to take
full advantage of several opportunities in front of goal. An early shot from Alfie
Huckle was well blocked by Ks keeper Liam Allen before another effort from
Tanners skipper Tom Kavanagh was turned behind for a corner.
Ks missed a good chance to break the deadlock on 32 minutes, with Simon turning
inside his marker before firing just wide of the post.
Tanners struck back. A forceful run from Kelvin Massango saw the ball played
through to Rhys Murrell-Williamson, but the winger’s powerful shot was well saved
by Allen.
Leatherhead continued to pile pressure on the Ks’ defence. Ruben Bartlett-Antwi’s
long range shot went straight to the keeper and the visitors thought they had scored
when a probing cross from Franzen-Jones was scrambled off the Ks goal line and put
behind for a corner.
But the match turned decisively in Ks favour when the hosts grabbed the lead in first
half stoppage time. Bradley Wilson got round his marker at the half way line and
broke away down the left before picking out Simon with a superb delivery to the far
post for the striker to fire home.
Wilson should have doubled the hosts’ lead on 55 minutes, but his well-struck shot
was comfortably saved by Leatherhead keeper Sonny Wheeler.
Tanners hit back and levelled two minutes later. The K’s defence failed to clear away
a Leatherhead corner and the ball fell invitingly for Franzen-Jones, whose fierce drive
found the net from eighteen yards.
Simon missed a chance to restore Ks advantage on the hour mark when his shot on the
turn was comfortably saved by Wheeler.
Chances came and went at both ends in the final half hour. Simon was inches away
from latching onto another deep cross hit towards the far post for the hosts, before Ks
keeper Allen did very well to block a direct free kick from Leatherhead’s Kavanagh.
Wheeler turned away a powerful shot from Ks sub Harry Mills on 76 minutes before
Joe Bell headed over another chance for the hosts.
At the other end Kane Fitzgerald and Huckle tested Allen with long range shots
before Tanners sub Anuar Ceesay was also denied when another Leatherhead effort
was blocked in the closing minutes.
While neither side was able to force a winner, full credit should go to both sets of
defences for their skill and determination to block out almost everything to keep the
scores level to the final whistle.
There were two familiar faces among the named substitutes from last season’s
Tanners squad. Yet neither Tyler Cox – now at Kingstonian – nor Kenny Beaney –
returning to Leatherhead after a season-long injury lay-off – were called upon to make
an appearance for their respective clubs.
Tanners return to action on Tuesday when they face Horndean in a rearranged league
fixture at Fetcham Grove. Kick-off is at 7.45pm.
Kingstonian: Liam Allen, Arsen Ujkaj (Alex Kelly 70), Joe Bell, Rueben Duncan,
Ben Parkinson, Joe Hicks, Stan Flaherty, Eddie Simon (Taurean Roberts 80), Bradley
Wilson, Palace Francis (Harry Mills 70), Joe Pratley-Jones
Leatherhead: Sonny Wheeler, Kelvin Massango, George Hedley, Niran Butler, Cerny
Ando, Tom Kavanagh, Kane Fitzgerald, Alfie Huckle, Ruben Bartlett-Antwi (Anuar
Ceesay 45), Rhys Murrell-Williamson (Jamarie Brissett 45), Lukas Franzen-Jones
(Ty Butler 83)