HEYBRIDGE SWIFTS 2, KINGSTONIAN 4

A SWASHBUCKLING first-half display gave Kingstonian their first away league win for two months on Saturday and enabled them to complete their first Ryman League double of the season (writes MARK MURPHY).

Ks led 4-1 at the break and, although they played poorly in the second-half, the damage had been done and Heybridge could not recover.

One of Phil Wingfield's rare headers put Ks in front in the fifth minute following a pin point cross from Tim Sills, who had been sent clear by Dave Clarke.

Barely another five minutes had passed when left-back Mark Jones burst through two tackles down the left before drilling in a near-post cross which Sills converted with his left-foot for his 15th goal of the season.

A third goal arrived on 36 minutes when right-back Max Hustwick's long ball over the top caught everyone except Wingfield flat-footed. The Ks veteran had time to chest the ball down past the on-rushing Placid and slide it home with his right-foot.

Sodje Akpa reduced the arrears for Heybridge with a low shot, but Ks stormed back and Craig Rocastle forced Placid to tip a long-range drive

on to the bar. Tim Sills' blocked shot then rebounded to Scott Steele who returned it with interest past Placid's left-hand from 20 yards.

Placid was fortunate not to be sent-off on 74 minutes for a knee-high challenge on Tim Sills. To add insult to the mere yellow card he received, Placid blocked Clarke's resultant free-kick and was himself saved by a linesman's flag

as the alert Sills drove the rebound home.

On 82 minutes, Heybridge pulled a goal back when Mark Jones fouled Cousins in the box and Abrahams converted the penalty.

Kingstonian:Key, Hustwick, M.Jones, J.Sills, Barnsby, Rocastle (Lewington, 69mins), Pinnock, Clarke, T.Sills, Steele (Lampton, 77mins), Wingfield. Subs not used: A.Jones, Flitter, Alimi.