Superb Tolfrey guides Ks up to second

Kingstonian moved up to second in the Ryman Premier League after a monumental battle with Margate, who looked far more impressive than their lowly position suggests.

In a breathless end-to-end encounter, it was Ks who notched an early goal through defender John Fletcher, but they had to defend that lead with some determination.

Man-of-the-match, Ks keeper Rob Tolfrey, was in impassable form launching himself across his box to block a series of goal-scoring opportunities for the visitors.

The safety of the second goal came but came late, in additional time, when sub Dean Lodge finished off a sparkling run in style and the sense of relief around Kingsmeadow was palpable. Ks now have a friendly game tomorrow night (Tuesday, subject to the weather) at Camberley Town, with a 7.45pm kick-off.

This Saturday, Ks return to Ryman League action when they travel to Horsham.

In the first minute, a Matt Gray corner from the left saw his skipper Francis Duku poke the ball goalwards for a lurking Bobby Traynor but alert Gate keeper Matt Reed smothered.

The visitors replied with an edge-of-the-box free-kick from Joe Healy that was straight to Tolfrey on his line.

On four minutes, Traynor moved at some pace into the away box but fired wide.

Then Gray picked out Traynor deep in the Gate box but centre back Sam Groombridge conceded a corner.

A short and low Gray corner from the right found Traynor but he fired wide of the near post.

Margate striker Lloyd Blackman, who was a handful all afternoon, exploited some defensive hesitancy and let loose a powerful edge of the box drive that went just wide.

On nine minutes, Healy sent in a dangerous cross from the left for a lurking Blackman, but Tolfrey intercepted and punched clear.

Then Gate went really close, when a Dan Stubbs corner from the left was met with a header from unmarked striker Anthony Joseph that was tipped over by an alert Tolfrey at full-stretch.

On 19 minutes, though, it was Ks who opened the scoring. A free-kick was returned to Gray and his high cross from the right saw Duku head the ball into a crowded Margate goalmouth, where JOHN FLETCHER scrambled the ball home.

The visitors should have equalised on the half-hour when a long throw from defender Aaron Lacey fell to Stubbs in the Ks goalmouth but he sliced his volley straight into the arms of Tolfrey.

Ks striker Carl Wilson-Denis was a thorn in the Gate backline all game long.

He took off on a battling run down the left deep into the away box where Reed darted out to block him.

With six minutes to the break, Wilson-Denis took off down the right, turned a defender and blasted the ball across the face of the visitor's goal.

In the first minute of the second half, Wilson-Denis's drive from the edge of the away box struck Groombridge and span into the side-netting.

Gray sent in the corner from the left where Luke Hickie's shot was blocked, Duku made it first to the loose ball close in, but Reed pulled off a fine point-blank save.

On the hour, Christian Jolley found Traynor just inside the Gate box, his drive took a deflection off Dan Young but Reed smothered the ball on his line.

Young was then yellow-carded for upending Wilson-Denis. Some 30 yards out, Traynor drove the free-kick straight into the defensive wall.

A long run from Jolley broke down outside the visitors box, Mo Harkin made it to the loose ball, but could only blast over.

Then a Harkin crossfield pass set Gray free down the right but his cross was tame and went straight to Reed on the near post.

A penetrating run from Harkin deep into the away box was blocked before he could get a shot in, much to his frustration.

Back came the visitors and a Stubbs chip from the left was held by Tolfrey at full-stretch.

With the visitors caught upfield on 81 minutes, Simon Huckle set Wilson-Denis free down the right flank.

He unselfishly rolled the ball into the path of Traynor but he shot wide.

With six minute to go it looked odds-on that Margate had earned a point.

A run from sub Sam Cliff in the Ks box was causing serious problems especially when the ball was pushed out to Stubbs in acres of space close in.

He let loose a forceful volley that was superbly blocked point-blank by Tolfrey at full-stretch.

Then Blackman went around the back of the Ks defence, but his acute-angle drive was straight at Tolfrey,a cross might have been the better option.

With three minutes to go, Margate skipper James Duncan found Blackman out on the right, he set up sub Wayne Wilson on the edge of the Ks box but he fired wide.

With a minimum of four minutes of additional time, a Healy free-kick found Cliff but his effort was pushed out by Tolfrey for a corner.

In the third minute of additional time, and with Margate caught upfield, a Duku clearance found DEAN LODGE on the halfway line, he turned a defender and took off down the middle of the park and, as he entered the visitors' box, he coolly dropped a shoulder and side-stepped Reed to run the ball home into an empty net.

Ks: 1. Rob Tolfrey 2. Matt Gray (sub Rob Sheridan, 88mins) 3. John Fletcher 4. Adam Thompson 5. Francis Duku (capt) 6. Simon Huckle 7. Luke Hickie (sub Lee Hall, 67mins) 8. Mo Harkin 9. Bobby Traynor 10. Carl Wilson-Denis (sub Dean Lodge, 89mins) 11. Christian Jolley.

Subs: 12. Rob Sheridan 13. Grant Fisher (G/k - not used) 14. Lee Hall 15. Dean Lodge 16. Tommy Williams (not used).

Ks yellow cards: Gray

Attendance: 347

Futurama Ltd Ks man of the match: Rob Tolfrey