K’s Snatch Defeat from the Jaws of Victory
How do honeymoon periods traditionally end? Is it when you touch down at Heathrow after a fortnight of passion in Barbados or Venice or wherever it is people voyage after their wedding? Is it the time you have your first blazing row post-nuptials, possibly about in-laws or upholstery? Or is it when you inexplicably throw away a two-goal lead in the driving rain against Met Police at Imber Court?
It looked like Leigh Dynan’s (almost) pitch-perfect start to life at K’s would continue into a third week as we sailed ahead against nine-unbeaten Met Police, on the back of thumping and thrilling away victories at Thurrock and Hendon.
But this would be to ignore Bostik unpredictably. And the fact K’s never draw. So a first defeat under Dynan it was.
K’s started well. Alec Fiddes had already had an effort cleared close to the goal-line, and he didn’t have to wait much longer to find the net. Ambrose Gnahore slipped in Andrew Musungu down the left and his whipped delivery skidded off the wet surface invitingly for Fiddes, who cleverly steered his shot inside the far post. It was a fine goal.
Fiddes and Tom Derry both came close to doubling our advantage before the break, but instead it was Gnahore who did make it 2-0 shortly after half-time. His speculative 25-yarder slipped through Luke Williams’s grasp and dribbled over the goal-line.
K’s looked comfortable and calm. So quite how things unravelled so spectacularly remains a mystery. Part of it can certainly be put down to some suspect defending, particularly for the Police’s first goal when tackles were missed and clearances fluffed. Luke Robertson converted from close range.
That was with 12 minutes remaining. K’s managed another eight before being breached again. Former K Tom Bird intercepted a pass on halfway, strode forward, unchallenged, did a one-two, kept going, on and on, still unchallenged, before firing across Rob Tolfrey into the bottom corner.
Met maintained the momentum into the closing stages in sodden Surrey, and got a stoppage-time winner through Bird, who again capitalised on some hesitant K’s defending. What a way to lose, and what a place to lose it like that.
Match report by Rupert Cane.
