K's and Rocks share the spoils in a four goal thriller

Tooting & Mitcham United’s Imperial Fields has many attractions. A large covered terrace behind each goal, a large grandstand with good cover and excellent sightlines, decent bar facilities, fabulous Caribbean food which is regularly praised by travelling fans, good access to public transport- there are so many positives that even Dulwich Hamlet fans were complimentary during their time here. For Kingstonian fans watching on tonight as their side took on Bognor Regis Town, however, there were two big negatives to set beside the positives.

Firstly, Imperial Fields isn’t theirs. And secondly, it most certainly isn’t in Kingston.

The K’s have been wandering nomads for six seasons. Their time in their very own Kingsmeadow came to an end in April 2017, and K’s fans had to watch on as Havant & Waterlooville fans partied after securing promotion with a goalless draw, whilst red fireworks lit the air from a neighbouring garden, launched by a K’s fan saying his own pyrotechnic goodbye to the club’s historic home, at this point about to be entirely the province of Chelsea and AFC Wimbledon.

A groundshare at Fetcham Grove, Leatherhead, followed- and then another, with Corinthian-Casuals. Neither really suited K’s fans, although at least Casuals was in the Borough that bears the name of their club. The distance between Kingston and Mitcham is only seven miles, but it isn’t just about journey times- although that obviously has an impact. It’s about having a place of your own, not only because everyone wants somewhere to belong, but because there are no financial advantages to lining another clubs coffers with rent and bar takings, etc. Even when that other club are as lovely as Tooting & Mitcham United.

The K’s average attendance this season is two hundred and seventy five. Now it’s important to note that tonight’s match with Bognor Regis Town was only their fourth home game of the season, but that average is down 12% from last season, and is ranked nineteenth amongst our Premier Division clubs, down from fourteenth last season. It’s painful to consider the numbers who used to watch in the glory days at Kingsmeadow- and the last set of glory days isn’t all that long ago. It’s only twenty two years since the K's were winning the FA Trophy for the second season in a row at the old Wembley, but it must feel much longer if you are most comfortable in red and white hoops.

It isn’t just the ground that has changed from last season; the team is much changed too. The latest set of K’s seems rather difficult to beat- four draws from six league matches- but it is almost unrecognisable. The K’s last match of last season, defeat at Margate in April, saw the following squad travel to Hartsdown Park:

Julian Schwarzer, Nyren Clunis, Kershaney Samuels, Simon Cooper, Ollie Cook, Kenny Beaney, 
Alex Addai, Gus Sow, Walter Figueira, Daniel Ajakaiye, D'sean Theobalds, Ezechukwu Ebuzoeme, 
Lewis Pearch, Teo Kurtaran, Jordan Wilson, Mason Whitnell.

Only Beaney from that squad was still available for their defeat at Hastings United last week. The manager has changed, too, Lee O’Leary, former Potters Bar Town boss and K’s midfielder, taking the reins in the summer, although he had been Assistant boss to Hayden Bird since February. With another survivor from last season, legendary keeper Rob Tolfrey, out with a long term and serious injury, K’s fans must struggle to recognise those in front of them- and although their squad doesn’t seem short of quality, that much change will take time to settle. ‘Home’ fans hoped that tonight would be the launchpad for the rest of their campaign, after their last two fixtures brought defeats to Sevenoaks Town and Hastings United.

Today’s visitors from the Sussex coast had delivered some sublime moments this season- and a few of the other sort, too. Brilliant in wins at Aveley and Cray Wanderers which brought ten goals; less than fabulous in defeats at Horsham and at home to Potters Bar. Eight goal Nathan Odokonyero had delivered many of the highlights, and the travelling faithful were hoping for more of the same from him this evening. The Rocks also had a new player in their squad- and indeed in their side, as he was starting- midfielder Leon Baker, who joined today from Havant & Waterlooville, who now have two rather unexpected mentions in this article. An injury crisis was apparently worrying all those who had travelled up from Nyewood Lane, and indeed it was suggested that some of the players filling the bench weren’t fit.

After a minute of silence in memory of Her Majesty The Queen, Kieron Cadogan got us underway for the hosts. Bognor started brightly, and the first chance came on three minutes, great work from Odokonyero down the left and a cross across the eighteen yard box expertly dummied by Nick Dembele. Sam De St Cross came charging in to meet it, and fired over.

The K’s responded, Corey Parchment particularly bright down the left, and they had their first effort in the ninth minute, but it was so high it was hardly worth writing about- and we’ll save the blushes of the player who found the roof of the terrace by not mentioning him!

Bognor boss Robbie Blake earned himself a talking to from referee Peter Wilson after protesting, perhaps too vigorously, that Dembele had been fouled on the edge of the box. From a neutral perspective it looked as if Dembele had run into the defender and hit the ground too easily, but the Bognor number ten was certainly putting himself about, and a few minutes later was penalised for a foul as the ball entered the back of the K’s net. As you can imagine, the visiting fans felt that decision was rather dubious, too.

We reached the twenty minute mark with the Rocks well on top, and a moment later they went ahead. Isaac Olaniyan, just in from the left touchline more than thirty yards out, looked up and saw keeper Mac Chisolm off his line. He decided to try his luck, and the ball flew through the air, over Chisholm, and into the net. This sparked debate about whether he meant it, but it didn’t matter. One-nil to Bognor, and on balance of play, absolutely deserved.

Could the K’s respond? They charged forward, but their efforts were hampered shortly after the restart by injury to Tyrese Owen, which led to a two minute stoppage. Ben Ward-Cochrane then fashioned the first real chance for his side, but could only shoot straight at Myles Bowman. It was a rare home attack, as it was the visitors still showing most of the attacking ambition. New arrival Baker was particularly impressive, continually looking for the ball at the base of the midfield, displaying lots of confidence and a fine touch. Apparently boss Blake had never seen him play, so we were surely all enjoying our first impressions.

The K’s could- perhaps should- have levelled in the forty first minute. Bognor keeper Bowman slipped trying to clear a backpass, and his clearance found Sean Bonnett-Johnson just outside the box. His shot was hard, but Bowman made a fine save- however the ball wasn’t cleared and a cross found Cadogan unmarked, six yards out. The home fans behind the goal must have been sure he was going to score, but the header curled over the bar. The host remained on top as two added minutes were signalled, but there was no further significant action as the half came to an end.

The second half started with a rejuvenated Kingstonian on the attack, and Tyrese Owen powered into the box and somehow worked a shooting opportunity despite the attentions of a number of Rocks defenders, Bowman forced to save. A Parchment free kick then forced a diving save from Bowman, who had done more in one minute than in the previous forty five. A series of corners followed, and a Bognor break, which saw Dembele play through Luke Robinson, his shot right across the goal going out for a goal kick. The Rocks really should have scored. Would they regret passing up that opportunity later?

More K’s pressure, and another corner, as the hosts announced an attendance of two hundred and forty eight. Parchment’s corner flew across the box and just needed a touch, but didn’t get one. The home fans behind the goal found their voices, as their side was finally giving them something to sing about. Indeed they had another corner, a shot from Thomas Gogo blocked by James Crane, but this one was badly overhit and went out for a throw.

Bognor relived the pressure by mounting an attack of their own, the combination of Olaniyan and Robinson causing consternation, and it was the signal for more Bognor pressure, Robinson at the centre of it. But again, their efforts came and went without any addition to the scoreline- until a K’s break. A run down the left, a cross, and the ball found Owen, who picked his spot and beat Bowman. One-one, and it had been coming. A minute later and the turnaround was complete, a ball out of defence, Ward Cochrane kept his footing under pressure, and the ball was in the bottom corner of the net. Two-one to the K’s, who had dominated since the restart, and Bognor stunned.

Baker then gave away a free kick just outside the box, seeing yellow- and two minutes later, his debut had gone from delight to disaster. Another foul, another yellow. The red card was waved, the home fans celebrated, and we wondered how Bognor, after their dominant first half performance, were not only two-one down but a man down. It seemed a little harsh, but truthfully Baker didn’t need to make the challenge. He wandered down the tunnel, disconsolate, as Calvin Davies also ended up in the book for his protests.

Could the ten men respond? They could! A ball from Davies found St Croix, who moved into the box, jinked, and curled the ball into the bottom corner. Two-two, thirteen minutes to go- and then Dembele was on the edge of the box, chance- and his shot went so far over the bar that the ball left the ground.

The K’s made a change. Sean Bonnett-Johnson departed, Fumnaya Shomotun appeared, The K’s number sixteen had ten minutes to make an impression. He won a corner, which Bowman had to punch clear under pressure. Neither side were happy with a point, and the ball continued to fly from end to end, the next chance going to Ward Cochrane, who brought another save from Bowman. At the other end, Odokonyero fired a blistering drive just over the bar.

Four added minutes. “Well done referee, you’ve had a wonderful game, well played,” came a voice from the away support, sarcastically, as the visitors wasted a free kick. The referee then booked Kenny Beaney for the hosts, and both sets of fans joined in a chorus of “you don’t know what you’re doing,” as the crowd suddenly found something to agree on. Ten seconds left, and Luke Robinson charged towards the Kingstonian box, tripped, twenty two yards and central. The referee moved the wall back, back, and they crept forward, forward, whilst protesting. Odokonyero took the free kick, and it cleared the bar. After seven minutes of the four added minutes the game came to an end, and each side had to be content with a point.

All in all, a draw was a fair result. But we suspect that the main talking points amongst the fans after the game sadly won’t be the goals, nor the undoubted skill on show.

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