Kingstonian 0

Phill Windeatt

Doncaster Rovers kept their hands on the League Cup for the second successive season, against a depleted Kingstonian side who reluctantly had to concede the return home leg because of their fixture pile-up.

Donny have had a pretty miserable season, recently sacking their manager Ian Snodin and recruiting former player Steve Wignall from Stevenage, and they worked hard for their victory.

The post match fireworks could not disguise the fact that it was a pretty uninspiring game, and Rovers must thank their noisy and partisan supporters in a 4,000 strong crowd that was worth a goal before the game had started.

Further bad news for Ks' manager Geoff Chapple, came with Phil Wingfield limping off half an hour into the game after a clash with Andy Watson. He will now need a miracle to make the twin towers.

In the very first minute, the home side had an excellent opportunity to take the lead when Martin Foster set up striker Dino Maamria down the left.

He charged into the Ks box but his fierce low drive ended up in the side netting.

Four minutes later, the Ks responded when a Geoff Pitcher cross saw was met by the head of Phil Wingfield, who just missed the target.

A lot of Donny possession was evident, but they weren't really troubling the Ks defence.

On 20 minutes, a good run down the right by Tarkan Mustafa saw him try to find striker Dave Leworthy on the near post, but keeper Andy Warrington got there first.

Foster then set up winger Kevin McIntyre on the right, he delivered a good cross aimed at striker Neil Campbell but Hurst confidentally intercepted.

On 28 minutes, Warrington confidently caught a Pitcher free-kick and then at the other end Hurst dealt well with a McIntyre low cross.

A good one-two between Mustafa and Akuamoah saw the Kingstonian wing back's cross test Warrington, but the able keeper was up to the challenge.

Ten minutes into the second, half sub Glenn Kirkwood whipped a cross into the Ks box, but skipper Matt Crossley headed back to his young keeper who is gaining in confidence from the few opportunities he has had to replace Steve Farrelly between the sticks.

On 52 minutes, Doncaster's player of the year Dave Penney's free-kick set up McIntyre on the edge of the Ks box, but he could only blast it against the Ks wall.

Luke Basford then tried to find Leworthy down the left, but again out came Warrington to clear.

It was on 65 minutes that Donny finally made the breakthough, although it was not a pretty sight.

A long throw by McIntyre on the left saw the Ks defence hesitate. The ball sailed across the goalmouth, and Maamria deftly touched the ball to Donny sub Jason Minett who kicked home from close range.

One goal was always going to be enough, although the Ks made a spirited fightback.

Soon after the goal, Luckett delivered a dangerous corner that saw Eddie Saunders go close, heading across the face of the Rovers goal.

On 80 minutes, Rovers ensured the Trophy was not going anywhere when Minett, who was out on the right with everyone queuing on the far post, delivered an extremely dangerous cross.

Hurst made a great block, but he could not stop Dave Penny squeezing a header home.

The Ks still didn't give up, Mustafa charged down the right with the ball at his feet, but his 25-yarder blazed over the bar.

The final chance of the game came when a Basford pass found Mustafa, but his drive went wide.

l Ks 1. Steve Farrelly 2. Tarkan Mustafa 3. Colin Luckett 4. Matt Crossley (capt) 5. Simon Stewart 6. Eddie Saunders 7. Luke Basford 8. Geoff Pitcher 9. Eddie Akuamoah 10. David Leworthy (sub Ronnie Green, 70mins). 11. Phil Wingfield (sub Gary Drewett, 28mins). Subs: 12. Derek Allan (not used) 13. Steve Farrelly (g/k - not used) 14. Ronnie Green 15. Junior Kadi (not used) 16. Gary Drewett.

Attendance: 3,837

Chapple can look back on a season of success

Football

By Russell Young

Finishing fifth in the Nationwide conference may be a little disappointing to some Ks fans, but in it was a fine achievement by Geoff Chapple's men.

After a string of fine wins in the conference, Ks found themselves top of the table in October, a run they continued until early December.

But as their Conference form began to falter, Ks' season began to even itself out with the arrival of the FA Trophy campaign that began to gather momentum for a return to another Wembley final.

Wins over Folkestone, Yeovil and Southport in the earlier rounds took them into the semi-finals against near neighbours Sutton.

Ks were still ticking along nicely in the league and despite falling to ninth at the start of March, bagged victories against Nuneaton, Dover and Scarborough and went into the second leg of the FA Trophy semi-final with Sutton at Kingsmeadow full of confidence.

Goals from Colin Luckett (2), Amara Simba (2), Phil Wingfield and Geoff Pitcher sealed a superb 6-0 win (7-1 on aggregate)

Fixture congestion was to strike for Ks, with a ten game league and cup spell in just over two weeks, making it a tough task before their big day at Wembley.

But Kingstonian put fatigue on the back burner winning four, drawing two and losing four of their remaining games.

With a fifth place finish, an FA Trophy final appearance this weekend, a runners-up spot in the Macmillan trophy and the winners of the Conference charity cup, it has been a good year for Ks, despite playing a hefty 62 games during the season.

Ks in the Cups

FA Trophy campaign.

Round 2 - A Folkestone 1-0 Round 3 - A Wealdstone 5-0 Round 4 - H Moor Green 2-1 Round 5 - A Yeovil 1-0 Quarter-Finals -

H Southport 0-0

Replay A Southport 1-0 Semi-Final -

(first leg) A Sutton 1-1

(second leg) H Sutton 6-0

Macmillan Trophy run

Round 2 - A Welling 1-0 Quarter Final - H Woking 2-0 Semi Final

(first leg) A Hayes 0-0

(second leg) H Hayes 1-0 Final - Doncaster 0-2.

Leading the team

Kingstonian's mascot tomorrow will be Jonathon Stacey, who will be celebrating his 10th birthday on Saturday as he leads the team onto the pitch at Wembley.

Jonathon, a pupil at Greville Primary School in Ashtead, is a member of the Junior Ks, though he also admits to supporting Chelsea as well.

His favourite players are Steve Farrelly, Geoff Pitcher, Eddie Akuamoah and Amara Simba and his favourite game was Kingstonian's recent 6-0 thrashing of Sutton United.

How to get to Wembley

CAR- from Kingston take the A3 head for the A309 and then A308 then onto the M25 and turn off at Junction 1A of the M40 onto the A40 then follow the signs to the stadium.

TRAIN- There is a service every 15 minutes from Kingston to Wembley. On the day the service will be £4.70 (adult) and £2.35 (child)

coach - the club are running a coach service from the ground. For more details contact Kingsmeadow on 0208 547 3335.