12:00am Saturday 1st January 2000
Ks fans were given a lift this week with the news that their favourite Eddie Akuamoah has agreed a deal which will keep him at Kingsmeadow for another two seasons.
The striker, who joined the Ks from Carshalton Athletic in August 1993, is now the longest serving player currently with the club.
He signed on the dotted line this week and deals are also on the table for midfielders Geoff Pitcher and Gary Patterson, although they had not concluded their contract talks as the Comet went to press.
Manager Geoff Chapple, who rates Pitcher and Patterson as one of the best midfield pairings in the Conference, will be keen to secure their services for another two seasons.
But he confirmed this week that he will not be desperate to strengthen his squad this season because Kingstonian, whose ground doesn't meet Football League standards, could not earn promotion to the Football League, even if they were to win the Conference championship.
Chapple told the Comet that changes would be made to the squad at the end of the campaign.
He said: "I know I have got to restructure. There will be players moving out of this club."
Three or four players will probably leave Kingsmeadow, once Chapple has assessed his squad, but fans can be assured that those who leave will be replaced.
Kingstonian are currently talking to Premiership West Ham with a view to extending striker Lee Boylan's loan spell because the initial one-month period is now up.
The Eire U-21 international endeared himself to Ks' fans by scoring the winning goal in the 1-0 derby against Woking at the Kingfield stadium on January 2.
If Boylan does return to Upton Park, Geoff Chapple will look to recruit another front man to provide cover for regulars Eddie Akuamoah and Dave Leworthy.
Trophy offers Ks chance for glory
Kingstonian's FA Trophy clash with Kettering on Saturday will make or break their season.
The Ks are currently sixth in the Conference table, well adrift of the leading contenders for the championship following a recent spell of indifferent form.
Promotion has already been ruled out because Kingsmeadow is not up to Football League standards.
And manager Geoff Chapple says he doesn't want to win the title this year because of the heartache which would be caused by finishing top and not being promoted.
The FA Trophy, the non-league equivalent of the FA Cup, now represents Kingstonian's only remaining chance of glory this season with the ultimate prize of a day out at Wembley for the finalists.
But Kettering will be tough opposition - they are top of the Conference table, crushed Morecambe 6-0 last Saturday and have gone eight matches without defeat. And the Poppies inflicted a 2-0 defeat on Kingstonian when the two sides met in the Conference at Rockingham Road back in September.
Chapple, who won the FA Trophy three times in four years when he was at Woking acknowledged that Kettering are "flying at the moment", basing their success around solid defence while also plundering plenty of goals.
The Ks earned their place in the FA Trophy
Kingstonian's FA Trophy clash with Kettering on Saturday will make or break their season.
The Ks are currently sixth in the Conference table, well adrift of the leading contenders for the championship following a recent spell of indifferent form.
Promotion has already been ruled out because Kingsmeadow is not up to Football League standards.
And manager Geoff Chapple says he doesn't want to win the title this year because of the heartache which would be caused by finishing top and not being promoted.
The FA Trophy, the non-league equivalent of the FA Cup, now represents Kingstonian's only remaining chance of glory this season with the ultimate prize of a day out at Wembley for the finalists.
But Kettering will be tough opposition - they are top of the Conference table, crushed Morecambe 6-0 last Saturday and have gone eight matches without defeat. And the Poppies inflicted a 2-0 defeat on Kingstonian when the two sides met in the Conference at Rockingham Road back in September.
Chapple, who won the FA Trophy three times in four years when he was at Woking acknowledged that Kettering are "flying at the moment", basing their success around solid defence while also plundering plenty of goals.
Trophy offers Ks chance for glory
Kingstonian's FA Trophy clash with Kettering on Saturday will make or break their season.
The Ks are currently sixth in the Conference table, well adrift of the leading contenders for the championship following a recent spell of indifferent form.
Promotion has already been ruled out because Kingsmeadow is not up to Football League standards.
And manager Geoff Chapple says he doesn't want to win the title this year because of the heartache which would be caused by finishing top and not being promoted.
The FA Trophy, the non-league equivalent of the FA Cup, now represents Kingstonian's only remaining chance of glory this season with the ultimate prize of a day out at Wembley for the finalists.
But Kettering will be tough opposition - they are top of the Conference table, crushed Morecambe 6-0 last Saturday and have gone eight matches without defeat. And the Poppies inflicted a 2-0 defeat on Kingstonian when the two sides met in the Conference at Rockingham Road back in September.
Chapple, who won the FA Trophy three times in four years when he was at Woking acknowledged that Kettering are "flying at the moment", basing their success around solid defence while also plundering plenty of goals.
The Ks earned their place in the FA Trophy Third Round with a 2-1 win at Gloucester City.
Weather threat to Kettering clash
Fans are being urged to check that Saturday's FA Trophy game with Kettering is definitely on before heading to Kingsmeadow.
For a reserve game was postponed on Wednesday night following days of heavy rain and the club's groundsman fears that any more downpours could force the Trophy match to be called off.
If there is any doubt about the match going ahead, there will be an inspection on Saturday morning. Please contact the club for information about the fixture.
Call 0181 547 3335.
Were you lucky this week?
This week's top drawer winners were:
1 Mr A Bradford (4076); 2, A Taylor (2429); 3, Mrs L Earles (4290); 4, Mrs A Eden (7598); 5, Mrs Morton (1954); 6, Mr G Bigileston (7261).
Luckett takes the birthday honours
Kingstonian 1
Hayes 1
Football Vauxhall Conference
With confidence high after last Saturday's taming of Woking, the Ks again showed the inconsistency that has dogged them recently by dropping two valuable home points against the Missioners.
On a soft pitch Ks started brightly and had a good first half but as they fell back in the second the visitors took the opportunity to grab a point.
With Lee Boylan shepherded by centre backs Chris Sparkes and Jason Goodliffe, Ks didn't have an alternative with a midfield uncomfortable with a deteriorating playing surface.
After 14 minutes Colin Luckett turned an inswinging corner over the head of keeper Russell Meara, picking up a deflection on the way and it sailed into the far corner, the best possible way to celebrate your 23rd birthday.
Ks then had the best of the half but the Missioners looked capable on the counter-attack. Straight after the goal Gary Patterson raced down the left, his cross into the Hayes box caused some panic and Boylan was just blocked.
On 18 minutes a backpass from Pitcher stuck in the sand in the Ks box and Farrelly raced to clear but could only find Charles some 20 yards out, he lashed at goal but an agile and aware Farrelly blocked his shot.
In the final minute of the half the visitors had a lucky escape when Akuamoah picked up a throw and sent in a near post cross from the right which was blocked by defender Alvin Watts but he almost directed it into his own goal with Meara stranded. The second half saw Hayes dominating for large periods although the game was initially locked in midfield.
On 59 minutes the Missioners should have equalised when striker Nick Roddis broke through the middle setting up Flynn who was unmarked racing into the Ks box, but he could only blast over. On 62 minutes Watts pushed Patterson on the edge of the Hayes box and Pitcher's free-kick curled in for skipper Matt Crossley to head over.
Just as the Ks were starting to think they had done enough, sub Perry Norman set off down right and dropped a perfect far post cross into the Ks box. An unmarked Lee Charles popped up to score with a bullet header. This shook the Ks up and they still had chances in the last few remaining minutes to take all three points.
Immediately Boylan's near post cross was headed on by Akuamoah but into an empty Hayes goalmouth. Then a one-two between Patterson and Akuamoah in the Missioners box saw Patterson close in, but Meara blocked at his feet.
With a minute to go Pitcher found sub Scott Corbett down the right. He fed Patterson in plenty of space, and racing into the Hayes box, the midfielder attempted to curl the ball round Meara but it went straight at the keeper.
K's 1. Steve Farrelly 2. Tarkan Mustafa 3. Colin Luckett 4. Matt Crossley 5.
Simon Stewart 6. Mark Harris 7. Gary Patterson 8. Geoff Pitcher 9. Kevin
Rattray (sub Scott Corbett, 80mins) 10. Lee Boylan 11. Eddie Akuamoah.
subs: 12. Scott Corbett 14. David Leworthy (not used) 15. Mick Lester (not
used).
Attendance: 1129.
Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000.Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.
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