K's U18s Beaten for First Time This Season
Kingstonian came up against easily the strongest opponent they have faced so far this season in the green and white of Leatherhead, and it was the Tanners who left Grand Drive with all the points.
The Tanners started the game stronger than their hosts and they deserved to take the lead in the 11th minute with a smart turn and shot from the edge of the penalty area. K's slowly started to make their way into the game, and got themselves on levels terms in the 28th minute thanks to an excellent individual goal from Kwesi Ntim, whose powerful run down the centre and shot from about 20 yards out smacked the crossbar and fell only just over the line.
Two minutes later, and the K's had the lead. In practically their first attack since the equaliser, Alex Body was played in and from about fifteen yards out expertly slid the ball part the Tanners keeper.
The second half was almost a mirror of the first - it was Kingstonian who enjoyed the better start, but eventually it was Leatherhead who scored the goals. K's had a disastrous 54th minute of the game when influential passer Iker Noguera Leon had to go off injured - it just so happened that Leatherhead had a free kick at the same time in a dangerous position just outside the area, which was blasted in and tapped home in a crowded six yard box, leaving K's keeper Shay Honey no chance.
The Tanners scored the final goal of the game in the 61st minute, winning a penalty for a foul inside the area - this was easily converted.
K's tried their best to get back on level terms, but for the most part found Leatherhead to be too organised, though there was a huge scare for the visitors in the sixth minute of injury time when a shot got past the Tanners' keeper but was brilliantly cleared off the line by a retreating defender. Referee Lucy Clark blew the whistle for full time just after, and the Tanners could celebrate their victory.
Kingstonian will next be in action next Thursday 16th September when they host Three Bridges at Grand Drive in the First Qualifying Round of the FA Youth Cup. Kick-off at Raynes Park Vale will be 7.45pm.
Apologies for not mentioning the goalscorers' names for Leatherhead, this is not a deliberate thing, with the Tanners wearing dark green shirts with black numbers and the game being floodlit and the writer probably desperately needing new glasses, I couldn't see the numbers...
