Kingstonian 2-0 Cray Wanderers - It will kill me if we don't go up - Jenkins

The 34-year-old Essex based goalkeeper was punished for two blunders, gifting goals to Simon Huckle and Max Hustwick, as the league leaders now need just one point from their last two games to clinch the Ryman League Division One South title.

Jenkins, whose side can only win the title on goal-difference, which at the moment stands at +11 in Kingstonian’s favour, rued the loss of midfield playmaker Danny Chapman, who failed a pre-match fitness test because of a groin injury.

But Jenkins, whose side are only three points clear of third-placed Worthing, admitted his side will have to join Kingstonian in the Ryman Premier League, via the play-off lottery.

The long-serving manager, speaking to www.kentishfootball.co.uk afterwards, refused to blame Knight.

“He’s entitled to a bad game every now and then,” a devastated Jenkins said.

“When the keeper makes a mistake they tend to get punished. It’s one of them really. I can’t blame Knighty for the goals. We were just off on the day.”

The largest crowd to watch a Ryman League Division One South match this season were disappointed as the top-two sides failed miserably to entertain.

Cray Wanderers squandered an excellent chance to stun the vocal home faithful with just 108 seconds on the clock.

Lewis Wood delivered a cross from the right and this was met by striker Leigh Bremner at the far post, but his glancing header from just six-yards out dropped over.

But Kingstonian broke the deadlock - with their first shot on target - with fourteen minutes on the clock.

Hustwick, inside his own half, delivered a free-kick towards Cray’s goal and this was flicked on by striker Carl Wilson-Denis for Huckle, who turned and stroked a poor left-footed shot, which trickled past the flat-footed Knight to find the back of the net, via the left-hand post.

Kingstonian created a couple of half-chances before they doubled their lead after 27 minutes, thanks to a bigger blunder from Knight.

Midfielder Tommy Williams floated in a free-kick from just inside the Cray half and Knight rushed hopelessly off his line, he could only look on as Hustwick got to the ball first and celebrated as his towering glancing header sailed into an empty net.

Cray Wanderers’ best chance of the entire game arrived ten minutes before the break.

Jamie Wood’s free-kick from 35-yards was met by Mark Willy’s powerful header from just six-yards out and this brought an excellent diving save from K’s goalkeeper Luke Garrard, and the champions-elect had the rub of the green as the loose ball fell to them and the ball was cleared.

Jenkins was the first to walk back out onto the pitch, drinking from a white plastic cup, having tried to inspire his lacklustre players during the interval.

And he was hugely disappointed that his side, renowned for playing quick attacking football, lacked passion and fight during a game that they will want to forget in a hurry.

Jamie Wood whipped in a left-footed free-kick from the right flank towards the near post and this was met by Arron Day’s looping header, which dropped onto the roof of the K’s net.

But sadly for Cray’s followers, they knew from an early stage that their side had blown their title hopes here today.

Kingstonian had a flattering third goal ruled out for handball in the 57^th minute.

Dean Lodge was given time on the left flank to bring a pass under control, before cutting inside defender Steve Aris and floating a cross towards the far post.

Kingsmeadow erupted for a third time as striker Carl Wilson-Denis wheeled away in celebration, but an eagle eyed assistant spotted that the 19-goal striker had used his hands to score.

Had the goal counted, the striker may not have been accredited with the goal, as Knight chucked the ball into his own net - it was a day to forget for the former Dover Athletic goalkeeper.

Jamie Wood lashed a right-footed effort high over Garrard’s crossbar from 25-yards, but the woodwork saved Cray Wanderers in the 75^th minute.

Skipper Jamie Kempster, positioned in front of the woodwork, ducked as Tommy Williams swung in an in-swinging corner from the left. Thankfully the ball bounced off the post.

A late fight back never materialised as Cray went missing on what was their biggest game of the season.

Michael Power crossed from the right and this was met by a towering far post header from substitute Tyrone Sterling, which cleared the crossbar, and then fellow substitute Richmond Kissi flashed a shot wide.

Jenkins, spent roughly fifteen minutes inside a disappointed dressing room, before speaking to the two-men Kent media afterwards.

And he said, “I’ve just said to the players in there, if they lose their next two games and we pick up a few goals, it’s still possible!

“But no, realistically we have to look at the play-off’s now.”

Jenkins couldn’t explain why his side put on such a flat display.

“Poor start, from the off we gave the ball away cheaply and it just carried on from there in the first half,” he bemoaned.

“Two sloppy goals and then in the second half it really petered out really. They defended well, we didn’t put any pressure on them. It was a poor display all around.”

Jenkins admitted being without the vastly experienced Danny Chapman was a big blow.

“Danny’s been playing really well in there with Simon Osborn,” he said. “When you lose one of them big players it’s a big miss for us.”

With Worthing closing in, Jenkins demands maximum points from their last two games, before they extend their campaign for the lottery play-off.

“We need to get maximum points, we need to finish second so we get the home advantage unlike last year when we had to go down to Tooting for the play-off final,” said Jenkins.

“It’ll be nice to get the home advantage if, touch wood, we get to the final of the play-off’s.

“It’s so important that we go up this year. We’ve got the new ground stages going through so we need to be in the league above.

“It will kill me, to be honest, if we don’t go up. I’ll be devastated about it. We’ve just got to get together now and win our next four games.”

Despite today’s blow, there is a determined nature that the Wands will prevail in the play-off’s - especially after suffering heartbreak in last season’s final at Tooting & Mitcham United.

“The players are in there, a bit gutted obviously,” revealed Jenkins. “We’ve just played against the team that’s going to win the league and they’re celebrating in their dressing room and we can hear that in our dressing room and it’s not nice is it? But that’s football for you.

“Any team that wins the league are deserved champions. You don’t get no luck do you? The best side always wins the championship and fair play to them - good luck to them.”

Like his manager, Steve Aris, also speaking to www.kentishfootball.co.uk, refused to blame Knight.

“Everyone makes mistakes, that’s football,” he said. “Knighty’s saved us on many occasions this season. We hold nothing against (him) and we move on. We’re all a group of lads, we all stick together.”

But Aris did admit that the Cray Wanderers’ performance was very poor.

“I think it’s the worst 45 minutes that we’ve had first half over the last three or four months,” he bemoaned.

“We just didn’t seem to get at it, no-one seemed to be at it. It was very disappointing to be fair.

“We came here fancying our chances massively after the last few weeks, performances and results, but we just didn’t’ get started to be honest.

“We just got bullied for the first couple of goals, we just never got back in it to be honest.

“We’ve come here so full of confidence but for some strange reason it never happened today. Maybe two games in three days, I don’t know. But no excuses, we just weren’t at it from the first minute, which is disappointing.”

Kingstonian: Luke Garrard, Jamie Beer, Nick Rundell, Adam Thompson, Max Hustwick, Simon Huckle, Liam Collins (Neil Lampton 87), Tommy Williams, Bobby Traynor, Carl Wilson-Denis (Craig Mullen 89), Dean Lodge.
Subs: Luke Naughton, Jon Cloke, Wayne Finnie.

Goals: Simon Huckle 14, Max Hustwick 27

Booked: Adam Thompson 49

Cray Wanderers: Glen Knight, Arron Day, Colin Luckett, Michael Power, Mark Willy, Steve Aris (Tyrone Sterling 64), Simon Osborn (Dean Morris 80), Jamie Kempster (Richmond Kissi 78), Lewis Wood, Leigh Bremner, Jamie Wood.
Subs: Juma Ibrahim, Danny Chapman.

Booked: Jamie Wood 36, Colin Luckett 41, Leigh Bremner 52, Simon Osborn 58

Attendance: 746
Referee: Mr Colin Lymer (Mayford, Surrey)
Assistants: Mr David Jones (Addlestone, Surrey) & Mr Ian Kitchen (Chertsey, Surrey)