Isthmian Premier Play Off SF Report
Pre Match
Kingstonian & Bury Town will face eachother today in this Isthmian League Premier Division play off semi-final fixture. K's have turned around a poor first half of the season & were almost challenging Sutton United for the title, but go into this play off game on the back of 2 defeats. Bury Town have won their last 6 games & to add tothat have also rarely conceeded a goal in that period. The K's were at this stage last season when they defeated this season's champions Sutton United 4:2, while Bury Town enjoyed promotion from the Southern League Division One Midlands.
Starting XI
1- James Gilpin
2- Matt Gray
3- Gary MacDonald
4- Steven Berry
5- Adam Thompson (C)
6- Adam Vasey < 17, 68th
7- Dean Lodge
8- David Howland
9- Joshua Vermooten
10- Carl Wilson-Denis < 15, 83rd
11- Suleiman Leluu
Subs
12- Nic Taylor
14- Stefan Martin
15- Jean-Sylvain Dossou > 10, 83rd
16- Tom Bird
17- Simon Huckle > 6, 68th
First Half
The first half was a relatively cagey affair with both sides attacking cautiously & defending well. Carl Wilson-Denis hit the cross bar from a misplaced cross midway through the half but it was former Northern Irish youth international David Howland who opened the scoring for Kingstonian, smashing in a well placed low cross from Dean Lodge to send the 350 Kingstonian fans mental. Half time: Kingstonian 1:0 Bury Town.
Second Half
Goalkeeper James Gilpin is really making a name for himself since joining K's in February, making crucial saves & none more so then his close range stop against a Bury Town striker on 59 minutes. K's almost went 2:0 up just after the hour mark when Adam Vasey's cross deflected off a defender onto the post & back out. Bury Town were laying siege on K's goal looking for an equaliser, & with 10 minutes left to play the K's went ultra-defensive looking to hold the victory. Disaster struck on the 90th minute when captian Adam Thompson slid in to disposses an attacking player, but in the process he knocked the ball past James Gilpin & into the K's net. The game will go into extra time.
Extra Time
Joshua Vermooten almost put K's into an early extra time lead but his shot went just over the cross bar. With the clock reading 108 minutes, Bury Town almost grabbed a winner when a shot rattled off of the K's cross bar & out of play. Both teams were unable to score in extra time & the match will go to penalties!
Penalty Shoot Out
1 - Bury Town, GOAL
1 - Kingstonian, GOAL (Dean Lodge)
(1:1)
2 - Bury Town, GOAL
2 - Kingstonian, GOAL (David Howland)
(2:2)
3 - Bury Town, GOAL
3 - Kingstonian, SAVED (Matt Gray)
(B3:2)
4 - Bury Town, GOAL
4 - Kingstonian, GOAL (Gary MacDonald)
(B4:3)
5 - Bury Town, SAVED
5 - Kingstonian, SAVED (Suleiman Leluu)
(B4:3)
Post Match
The fans, players & staff of Kingstonian all look devestated as Bury Town will go on to the play off final & a chance to win promotion to the Conference South. As for the K's it's going to be another season in the Isthmian League Premier Division & some reinforcement is needed if the team are to not have a repeat of this season.
Bad luck man, you must of been gutted when Bury Town equalized in the 90th minute! Looking forward to your next season and expect to see you at the top
yeah... especially when it was my captain with an own goal!!! To make matters worse Sutton got them selves promoted so no major derby for us next season. I think we can take the league next season with a few key signings but I'll be happy with another play off spot.
11/12 - Pre Season Report
An impressive pre season by Kingstonian, defeating parent club Rotherham United 3:1 & feeder club Raynes Park Vale 5:1. A draw at Isthmian League Division One South team Chipstead in the final friendly was a bad note in an otherwise good showing from the K's. A few first team players departed because they asked for too much money in contract renewals, but they have been replaced with better players. First game of the season is at Kingsmeadow against Surrey rivals Carshalton Athletic & the K's are hoping for a better start then the 2:0 defeat to relegated Aveley last season.
11/12 - August Report
Kingstonian find themselves in the same situation as last season, after an opening day victory over Carshalton Athletic followed by a draw with Lowestoft Town, the K's were defeated by Canvey Island, giving the Gulls their first points & goals of the season.
11/12 - September Report
A month of no defeats for Kingstonian was backed up by a very impressive 7:1 home victory over Conference South side Havant & Waterloville in the FA Cup. K's were missing a few first team players on injuries at the start of the month but the squad now have a clean bill of health & good form to take in to October.
11/12 - October Report
K's enjoyed a near perfect month in October. Despite crashing out in the FA Cup 3rd Qualifying Round to near by Conference South outfit Hampton & Richmond Borough, Kingstonian are currently 2nd in the league & only 2 points behind Tonbridge Angels in 1st.
11/12 - November Report
K's continued their unbeaten run into December after another 3 wins & a draw. K's still sit in 2nd place. Tonbridge still lead the division but only by a single point now. 6 points seperate K's from dropping out of the play off places.
11/12 - December Report
As the year turns to 2012, Kingstonian sit on top of the Isthmian League Premier Division. The unbeaten run ended at Hendon but good reuslts elsewhere in the league & K's not being defeated in the rest of the month has helped Kingstonian to the top of the table.
11/12 - January Report
Kingstonian have managed to go through another month unbeaten. Folkestone took top spot for a week on goal difference but a string of good home performances have put K's back on top of the table, 2 points clear with a game in hand.
11/12 - February Report
Still top of the league with a 4 point cushion. Kingstonian are still undefeated since defeat to Hendon at the start of December & looking good for the league title. An easy looking run in has given Kingstonian fans hope they can claime the title, with only Folkestone Invicta in the top 5.
(went 1 game into March without realising it...)
11/12 - March Report
Despite only having 3 defeats to their name in the league this season so far, it's the 12 draws Kingstonian have been involved in that has kept the other teams within easy distance. 3 points seperates the K's from Tonbridge Angels as we enter the last month of action.
11/12 - April Report
Not including the last league game of the season
With the final league game left to go, Kingstonian & Tonbridge Angels sit level on points, with the K's holding a firm goal difference advantage. Defeat to Margate at the start of the month helped Tonbridge to catch back up & going into the final game of the season it's all to play for!
Title comes down to the last game of the season! Excellent, hope you beat Hendon!
