Kingstonian assistant Mark Hams insists Ks will not be the Ryman League Premier Division whipping boys, despite watching his side concede eight goals in two games.
Bos Alan Dowson described the defending in Monday’s 5-3 home defeat to Harrow Borough as an embarrassment after goals from Bobby Traynor (2) and Carl Wilson-Denis had seen the scores level at 3-3 with just 22 minutes on the clock.
Harrow struck twice in the second half to make it two defeats in three days for Ks after Saturday’s 3-1 reverse at Ashford Town had got the season off to the worst possible start.
Dowson has vowed to shake things up at the back if his men continue to leak goals at such an alarming rate, but Hams insists there is no need to panic with four goals scored proving they are doing something right.
“When we go forward we look like we are going to score and we could have had five or six on Monday, but we have to nip the habit of conceding in the bud,” he said.
“You can’t just pick out the back four. We got done on the counter attack a couple of times, so is that the fault of just the defenders? You have to look at the areas where counter attacks begin and defend better as a unit.
“We can come up with any excuse under the sun, but the bottom line is if we continue to defend the way we are across the pitch, we’ll end up bottom.
“We are not the league’s whipping boys. We are better than that. There is no need to panic because there are still 120-odd points to play for.”
Kingstonian have secured the signatures of trialists 19-year-old Luke Pigden, 31-year-old defender Francis Duku and 21-year-old Christian Jolley as will as the signing of Hampton & Richmond Borough utility player Steve Tyson.
The 21-year-old came off the bench on Monday night having started at the weekend, but Hams insists there is better to come from the former Walton Casuals star.
“We’ve watched him for a while and he was excellent in a side that was usually battling relegation,” he added.
“He is fresh back from swine flu and before pre-season started he was in hospital with another illness. He knows he needs minutes under his belt, but he is going to be a really big part of our plans.”
Dowson is set to ring the changes at the weekend with Max Hustwick and former Premier League defender Ian Pearce expected to feature against Aveley.
Kingstonian’s next three fixtures: Aug 22 Aveley (h), 25 Dartford (a), 29 Hendon (a).
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