Maldon and Tiptree 3-2 Kingstonian
Disappointing K's beaten by impressive Jammers as FA Trophy odyssey ends at the beginning.
Kingstonian have gone out of the FA Trophy at the Third Qualifying Round stage after defeat at the Wallace Binder at the hands of Maldon and Tiptree.
The game started in difficult weather conditions, but K's seemed to settle down quite well and enjoy plenty of possession, however they rarely threatened Ben McNamara's goal. Then the Jammers took the lead in the 19th minute after a fine goal scored by Shomari Barnwell. K's struggled to get themselves back into the contest, yet it was still a major blow in the 29th minute when Barnwell doubled his tally with an excellent header scored after a superb cross from the right by substitute Rhamar Garrett-Douglas.
K's manager Hayden Bird then made a double substitution to change the formation of the team, taking off Juevan Spencer and Gus Sow, putting on forward Corie Andrews and defender Simon Cooper. The changes didn't instantly bring about any joy until just after the half time break when Andrews scored from close range after some sustained pressure. Hope was now raised that the visitors could get themselves back into the contest but then in the 71st minute Rob Tolfrey lost possession of the ball inside the penalty area, allowing his tackler Hamza Kaid to tap into an empty net. Worse was to come when Simon Cooper received a straight red card for a foul on Kaid in the 74th minute.
We got a grandstand finish when Corie Andrews scored again with five minutes to go when he got to a long ball before the Maldon and Tiptree goalkeeper did, rounded his man and rolled the ball into the net. Finally K's looked like they could get something positive from the afternoon as they pressed for an equaliser - in the last minute Elliott Buchanan forced McNamara into an excellent save, but after four minutes of added time, the Jammers held on for a deserved victory and will be in the proverbial hat for Monday's First Round draw.
