by Rod Ellis
Kingstonian 1 Leatherhead 2
Leatherhead maintained their one hundred per cent start to the new league season with a comfortable 2-1 win against Kingstonian at Raynes Park on Monday.
The visitors had the lion’s share of possession in the opening half hour but fell behind to a fine Moses Emmanuel header for Ks on 33 minutes. Skipper Kane Fitzgerald equalised for the visitors two minutes later before Jack Breckon slotted home midway through the second half to make it four league wins in a row for Leatherhead.
Rileigh Hebditch replaced an unavailable Sonny Wheeler in goal in an otherwise unchanged Tanners starting line up from Saturday’s resounding 3-0 win against Littlehampton Town.
With less than two minutes played Leatherhead had the ball in the Ks net. But Breckon was judged to be marginally offside as he stroked home Fitzgerald’s well weighted cross from the left.
Kingstonian threatened the visitors with a break on six minutes when Jamie Hilton put Tade Ibrahim through on goal. But Tanners centre back Niran Butler made a well- timed interception to deny the Ks striker.
Leatherhead moved the ball around the pitch with growing confidence and composure but were unable to produce an opening goal. Kareem Akinnibi hit a fierce drive over the bar and Breckon forced a good save from Ks keeper Liam Allen before the hosts snatched the lead against the run of play.
A ball was pumped into the Tanners’ penalty area from the right and Emmanuel met it with a sublime header that flew past Hebditch.
Kingstonian’s joy was short-lived, as the visitors drew level within two minutes. Fitzgerald took possession on the edge of the Ks penalty area and with a quick half turn stroked the ball past Allen and into the corner of the net.
Leatherhead looked more likely to score the next goal as they pressed players forward in the second half.
Akinnibi produced an impressive run down the left on 57 minutes but was unable to find anyone in a blue shirt to finish after drilling a low ball across the width of the six yard box.
Kingstonian sub Sonny Cooper almost got his name on the score sheet within moments of his introduction on the hour mark. Ks pressed the Leatherhead defence in an attacking move, culminating in Cooper firing a shot just over the bar.
Leatherhead scored the decisive second goal on 67 minutes. Mark Waters fed the ball out wide to Kelvin Massango on the left. The Tanners wing back delivered a probing cross into the six yard box for an advancing Breckon to fire home from close range.
Four minutes later Waters set up a chance for Nathan Hogan in an almost identical build up down the left. This time Hogan advanced with the ball towards goal, before forcing a good save from Allen.
Tanners continued to threaten the hosts down the left. On 84 minutes Massango pumped another fine delivery into the six yard box. But neither Hogan nor Ty Butler could provide a telling finish in front of goal to extend the visitors’ lead.
Hogan and Fitzgerald missed further half chances in the closing minutes but Tanners were worthy winners at the final whistle.
Leatherhead will look to look to build on this performance when they take on Bognor Regis Town at Chichester City’s ground on Saturday. Kick off at Oaklands Park is at 3.00pm.
Kingstonian: Liam Allen, Bryan Edwards, Joe Bell, Stan Flaherty, Moses Emmanuel,
Sean O’Brien (Sonny Cooper 60), Jamie Hilton (Maddox McMillan 88), Joel Brown
(Heesu Lee 81), Tade Ibrahim (Jack Lillie 88), Dennis Kelmendi (Taehyan Kim 90),
Mitchal Gough
Leatherhead: Rileigh Hebditch, Alfie Huckle (Nathan Hogan 56), Niran Butler,
Cameron Black, Mark Waters, Lukas Franzen-Jones (Sam De St Croix 56), Kane
Fitzgerald, Kelvin Massango, Louie Paget (George Hedley 90), Kareem Akinnibi
(Ross Stepney 90+5), Jacob Breckon (Ty Butler 82)
