Kentish Football 
Kingstonian 2-4 Cray Wanderers - Jenkins: I knew we would climb the table - EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEWS
Monday 22nd January 2007
KINGSTONIAN 2-4 CRAY WANDERERS
Ryman League Division One South
Monday 22nd January 2007
Stephen McCartney reports from Kingsmeadow
Cray Wanderers' manager Ian Jenkins fulfilled his promise that his side would start climbing the Ryman League Division One South table.
His side moved into eighth place after their win at a cold and windy Kingsmeadow tonight.
Former Bromley and Margate striker, Adolph Amoako had given the K’s an early lead but a brace from Welsh striker Andy Martin put Jenkins’ side in the driving seat at the break.
The second half, however, was disappointing for the 254 fans that braved the cold Surrey air but three goals in the last five minutes of the game proved that you should never leave a game early.
Kingstonian got off to a great start when Amoako scored his fourth goal of the season after just 177 seconds into the game.
The striker’s former team-mate at Bromley, Gary Drewett, sent a corner over to the far post and Amoako, wearing bright yellow boots, rifled the ball high into the net from close range.
The corner came about after visiting goalkeeper Steve Northwood pulled off a fine save to deny Wes Coggin scoring from a volley.
The Kent side squandered two free-kicks from good positions through former K’s hero, Colin Luckett, who got a warm reception at the end, and Martin, before equalising after 18 minutes.
Martin drove an angled shot from fifteen yards and the ball found the net off Kingstonian skipper, Julian Sills.
Asher Hudson, formerly of Kent League side Beckenham Town, launched a long throw into the visitors penalty area after 21 minutes and Northwood was relieved to see Jamie Jarvis’ towering header bounce off the top of the near post.
But Cray Wanderers went into the interval with the advantage following Martin’s second goal after 27 minutes.
Ross Lover’s far post corner was bundled over the line, off Martin’s hip from close range, to stun the long-suffering K’s faithful.
Unfortunately for the former Tonbridge Angels striker, 26, the tannoy announcer suggested that Cray’s opening two goals were both own goals.
But Martin said EXCLUSIVELY to www.kentishfootball.co.uk after the game that both goals were his.
He said: “First one, definitely mine and the second one came of my hip, the little bit of fat on my hip, so yes, two goals for me tonight.”
Following the three goals the game turned into a poor quality affair and when Drewett played a sublime diagonal ball for recent signing Bobby Traynor, the K’s striker’s shot ended up nearer the corner flag than Northwood’s goal.
Amoako squandered an excellent chance to draw level after 35 minutes but his lob over the advancing Northwood dropped agonisingly over and the agile goalkeeper needed treatment for his brave attempts to smother the ball at the striker’s feet.
Traynor reigned in a 30-yard, right-footed drive after just 56 seconds of the second half as fans hoped that the second half would improve.
On this occasion Northwood kept his eyes on the ball but managed to spill the ball but was on hand to collect without any real danger of a predator ready to pounce.
Then just before the hour mark, Drewett and Cray’s substitute Jamie Wood were both off target from long range shots.
Amoako’s looping 30-yard shot deflected past the left post at the halfway point of the second half.
Attacking left-sided midfielder, Martyn Lee, a second half substitute, sent over a pin-point cross from the left but Northwood was there to prevent Drewett scoring a rare goal with his head from six-yards.
Within a minute, Jamie Wood, cut in from the right but his shot rolled to Kingstonian goalkeeper, Luke Garrard.
The home side then put Cray Wanderers under pressure and after Northwood dropped a hanging cross from Simon Sobihy, Amoako saw his deflected shot go over.
Moments later Amoako harmlessly headed Drewett’s cross from the left wide.
Kingstonian were then hit by two sucker punches as the Wood brothers, Jamie and Lewis, scored two breathtaking goals.
Lewis Wood broke down the left hand side with pace and played in his older brother.
Jamie Wood saw Kingstonian goalkeeper Luke Garrard rush off his line but the tiny striker kept his composure to dink the ball over him and into the empty net.
Cray’s joy, however, was short lived, as their two-goal advantage lasted less than three minutes.
Sobihy floated in a left-wing cross towards the far post and Jamie Jarvis rose highest to power a header into the far corner.
But Cray Wanderers turned defence into attack to wrap up a vital three points as they bid for an end of season play-off berth.
Lee’s corner was punched out by an under pressure Northwood and the ball was played forward to Lewis Wood on the half-way line.
The 24-year-old striker sprinted forward and with Garrard a long way off his line in no-mans land, Lewis joined his brother on eleven goals for the season, with a sublime lob, which sailed over the goalkeeper to find the top left-hand corner.
“I said we’ll win a few games (and) we’ll go up the table and we’re proving it now,” a delighted Jenkins said EXCLUSIVELY to www.kentishfootball.co.uk afterwards.
“We’re going on a run, carry it on Saturday (at Sittingbourne) and go a few more places up.”
Jenkins, who joined the club as a player in 1993 before taking over as manager five years later, praised his team for their efforts in windy conditions.
“First half (with the) wind against us, that’s the best football we’ve played,” he said. “We put the ball down on the park and played (and) deserved to be in front.
“Second half we panicked a wee bit, we didn’t clear our lines good enough for my liking and conceded a sloppy goal really late on, 3-2, but Jamie and Lewis – two great goals.”
Jenkins was, however, pleased that the Wood brothers scored from two breakaway goals to secure the three points as Kingstonian were putting on the pressure at the time.
“It’s not something we’d like to do but in conditions like that you have to adjust,” said Jenkins.
“You have to get the ball quick to them against a team that’s pushing forward trying to get goals back, then you’re going to expose them – they’re good players aren’t they?”
Jenkins, meanwhile, explained why Al-James Hannigan, 35, has been released to join Aveley.
“Travel commitments for him,” explained Jenkins. “He can’t come over midweek. He’s got a new job now, which is more over the way he lives in Enfield, that way, and he’s finding it hard to get to every game.
“So we’ve shook hands and he’s gone to Aveley, so fair play to him.”
Jenkins pointed out that he won’t need to sign an additional defender as he has Mark Willy and Danny Whelan waiting in the wings. Both are a couple of weeks away from recovering from their injuries.
But veteran striker, Gary Abbott, is causing concern for Jenkins presently.
“Gary’s probably long-term now,” he revealed. “He’s had a problem, he’s neck seized up, pins and needles. A bit of a worry because of his age and all but I might be signing another forward in the next couple of days.”
Martin is also rated doubtful for Saturday’s trip to Sittingbourne after turning his ankle during the first half and was therefore substituted at the interval.
Kingstonian: Luke Garrard, Asher Hudson, Steve Symes (Martyn Lee 62), Julian Sills, Jamie Jarvis, Simon Sobihy, Wes Goggin, Scott Corbett, Bobby Traynor, Adolph Amoako (Niall Connery 80), Gary Drewett.
Subs: Richard Taylor, Steve Potterill, Stephen Windegaard.
Goals: Adolph Amoako 3, Jamie Jarvis 88
Cray Wanderers: Steve Northwood, David Hall, Colin Luckett, Matt Lee, Julian Curnow, Dean Morris, Ross Lover, Jamie Kempster, Lewis Wood, Andy Martin (Jamie Wood 45), Barry Gardner (Adam Young 86).
Subs: Chris Eather, Jimmy Beauchamp, Ian Jenkins.
Goals: Andy Martin 18, 27, Jamie Wood 85, Lewis Wood 90
Attendance: 254
Referee: Mr Warren Atkin (Crawley)
Assistants: Mr Phil Stevens & Mr Charles Breakspear
Red Dragon I.T. Ltd