Kingstonian 1 Horsham 3

This time though the K's did at least start strongly with striker Bobby Traynor putting his side ahead on just 9 minutes.

But then a worrying collapse which the visitors exploited with a three goal blitz within ten minutes, leaving the K's backline in tatters.

After the break the K's tried to salvage something, and their best player Bashiru Alimi found the Hornets woodwork, but the visitors defence did not look unduly worried with keeper Mark Zawadski picking wayward crosses out of the air with ease.

Expect K's manager Alan Dowson to import new blood, including a new striker, when they travel to Essex this Saturday January 8th for their first away game of the year against fellow play-off hopefuls Billericay Town, with a 3pm k.o.

It was all K's right from the off. On just three minutes a Matt Gray free-kick from the left was punched clear by Zawadski but only to Traynor but he was immediately blocked.

Then a Traynor flick was mopped up by the Hornets keeper. On nine minutes the K's opened the scoring when Simon Huckle pushed the ball out to Gray on the right flank, his pinpoint cross found BOBBY TRAYNOR, in space on the near post, and his powerful diving header gave Zawadski no chance.

Then a low cross from Gray into the Hornets goalmouth was seen out by centre back Hassan Nyang.

A Gray corner from the left found Tobi Jinadu, in for Gary MacDonald who picked up an injury in the warm-up, but he headed straight at Zawadski.

Alimi, showed good possession way out on the left, but his was cross went straight to a well-placed Zawadski on the near post.

The Hornets had their first opportunity on 15 minutes when wingerJamie Cade had a go from the edge of the home box but keeper Rob Tolfrey took it in his stride.

Then more worryingly Horsham striker Patrick Harding was blocked by K's skipper Adam Thompson close in.

A corner from Hornets skipper Anthony Storey let to a far post scramble and Mark Knee was blocked by Thompson.

Hornets young midfielder Frankie Raymond's effort from distance went over.

The visitors persistence paid off on 30 minutes when a communication breakdown occured between Tolfrey and his centre back Joe Dolan on the edge of the K's box allowing a cool SHANE GRAHAM to glide the loose ball home into an empty net, although Thompson darted back desperately trying to cut the ball out.

Three minutes later a fierce rising drive from Gray went just over. But the Hornets were in the ascendancy as Storey curled an edge of the K's box free-kick over.

On 38 minutes the visitors took the lead, a quick Storey free-kick seemed to catch the K's backline flat-footed.

Hornets striker Billy Dunn took off at some pace down the left, he cut in, finding PATRICK HARDING on the near post and he lashed the ball home.

Two minutes later a pacy counter-attack starting from the edge of their own box saw the Hornets swarm down the right as the K's hesitated and then melted away.

A Frankie Raymond through ball set ANTHONY STOREY free in the K's box and he coolly slid the ball past the outcoming but stranded Tolfrey. Alimi found Traynor deep in the Hornets box but defender Jamahl King made an important tackle.

The K's were going to need the assistance of Father Christmas and his little helpers if they were going to get anything from the afternoon now.

A Gray cross from the left just before the hour mark was well held by Zawadski.

A Traynor cross from the left then found sub Lee Hall on the edge of the away box but he got his shot all wrong. Patrick Harding took advantage of a rebound to take off down the left on a solo run but Tolfrey made a fine block.

Then Raymond set Dunn off down the left but his drive was short of the near post. On 64 minutes a cross from sub Tom Bird found Traynor deep in the Hornets box but his glancing header was straight at Zawadski.

A dangerous cross from Storey from the right flank dropped into the K's goalmouth but was headed out by Thompson. A Gray corner eventually fell to Traynor on the edge of the Hornets box but his drive was deflected wide.

The follow-up Gray corner was pushed back by sub Tom Bolarinwa to Gray again and his curling, well struck near post drive found the side-netting.

With 10 minutes remaining the K's had their best chance of getting back into the game when a Gray cross from the left picked out an unmarked Alimi close in, he unluckily headed against the bar, and he even got to the follow-up, but Zawadski made an important point-blank block.

A mazy run by Dunn in the K's box was stopped by a diving Tolfrey. With six minutes remaining Traynor took off on a pacy run down the right but his eventual drive was wide of the near post.

K's. 1. Rob Tolfrey 2. Dean Hamlin 3. Bashiru Alimi 4. Adam Thompson (capt) 5. Joe Dolan 6. Tobi Jinadu 7. Matt Gray 8. Max Hustwick (sub Tom Bird, 46mins) 9. Bobby Traynor 10. Simon Huckle (sub Tom Bolarinwa, 67mins) 11. Jean-Sylvian Dossou (sub Lee Hall, 55mins).

Subs: 12. Lee Hall 14. Tom Bird 15. Tom Bolarinwa 16. Sam Clayton (not used) 17. Nic Taylor (G/k - not used).