By Joe Longley
Kingston’s first XI fought back twice to scramble to a 2-2 draw at Royal Holloway University of London on yesterday.
Perhaps a little over-confident after their 5-0 Cup drubbing of the same opponents a fortnight ago, Kingston started sloppily and RHUL capitalised with a goal only five minutes in, from centre back Michele Giraudo.
“They didn’t really deserve the goal but afterwards we got stuck in,” said Kingston captain and centre back Sam Gordon.
The ball had deflected off Gordon and flashed past KU keeper Kieron Sanderson, before Giraudo pounced and tapped it into an open net.
A shocked Kingston gathered themselves and started running the ball down the flanks, both wingers looking dangerous on the break in search of the equaliser.
That goal came from striker Yaniek Monrose, who was on the end of a Kofi Wiredu cross and buried the ball instinctively in the corner.
However, Giraudo then added his second goal minutes later, after some sustained pressure from the home side.
“I came out to try to narrow the angle and he took an early shot, which no one was expecting, I just didn’t have time to react,” said Kingston keeper Kieron Sanderson.
In the second half, Kingston came out a completely different team, and put some pressure on Royal Holloway.
Their second equaliser came from an error when the ball rebounded off the Holloway defence, past their hapless keeper.
“The second half was all possession on our part, Kieron didn’t even make a save,” said Gordon. “We were constantly in their half, constantly making attacks. We probably had 10 corners in the second half.”
Kingston left the pitch slightly aggrieved feeling that a number of the referee’s decisions were unfair and capped them at a draw.