K’s climb off the bottom- and hit Hamlets hopes

It’s been a difficult season for fans of Kingstonian, but their side ended a six match losing streak and blunted Dulwich Hamlet’s play off hopes at Imperial Fields last night.

The K’s went ahead on eighteen minutes, and, as usual, the man doing the damage was Eddie D’Sane- although this time he had help. A throw in was sent back to Hamlet keeper R’avan Constable, his first touch let him down, and there was Dsane, scoring for the fifth match in a row and for the twenty first time this season- some record for a striker in a side that has spent most of the campaign struggling. Five minutes before the break the hosts had another, and this time it was Nasim Regragui doing the damage- although Dsane once more did most of the work, his shot saved by Constable and Regragui forcing home the rebound.

Hamlet had kept K’s keeper Rob Tolfrey busy during the first half, and they finally got onto the scoresheet just before the hour. As usual their goal came from Luke Wanadio, and as usual it was a long range beauty- his nineteenth goal of the season- and it gave the visitors a chance of taking something from the game. That chance increased four minutes from time as Hamlet were awarded a penalty, and the ever-reliable Wanadio stepped up…and proved he wasn’t quite as reliable as we thought, firing over the bar. More saves from Tolfrey followed, but the K’s held on for three points- and kept their survival hopes alive.

Kingstonian find themselves twelve points from safety, so escape would be dramatic indeed with eight matches remaining- but they’ve kept their chances alive. Hamlet’s aspirations are at the other end, but defeat leaves them in ninth, four points from a top five spot having played a match more than the side currently occupying fifth place.

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