Surbiton began with high pressure in what is fast becoming the typical Surb style and a series of neat through balls courtesy of L. Snowdon found K. Russell forcing a couple of early saves at the near post of the Kingston net.

Dynamo Kingston were slow to react at the start and the boys in green were more than happy to target the obvious weakness in their opponents – both full backs. Lofted balls down the flanks often sailed over the heads of the wide defenders who were facing up against considerably taller and more physical attackers in C. Banks and N. Murphy who was bombing forward from his central role.

The quick and infallible passing triangles were executed with precision throughout the opening 10 minutes and Dynamo were finding themselves conceding a series of free kicks. K. Topson provided an excellent opportunity for the opener with a perfectly-weighted dead ball delivery but D. Shortt nodded just wide of the post in a rare foray forward.

A goal did come as pressure mounted and C. Banks was clearly fouled inside the 18-yard box following some close control and ball retention. He duly stepped up and slammed the spot kick low to the keepers left to kickstart the match.

With the absence of a number of regular starters, the Surb had started excellently with A. Charles a considerable outlet out on the left flank once more. His surging runs repeatedly left defenders in his wake and his delivery from out wide posed further problems for the shaky Kingston back four.

Charles soon added a goal of his own to make it 3 goals in as many games. Once again, he cut in sharply from the left side of the pitch and using the laces of his boots sent the ball catching the goalkeeper by surprise and flying in at the near post. 2-0 at half-time.

Despite another excellent start running the game in the middle of the park, C. Brown succumbed to injury early in the second 45, and with limited options available on the bench, debutant M. Gurkkal stepped into central midfield and slotted straight into proceedings.

A rare Kingston attack saw them handed a lifeline as A. Charles was controversially penalised in his penalty area as he tried to attack an aerial ball with his head. Despite the opposing player backing out of the challenge, it was deemed a foul and the penalty was awarded.

The resulting penalty was a decent one but was more than matched by S. Baxter who done exceptionally well to force the venomous shot away from his net, but the ball bounced straight into the path of an onrushing Kingston player who was able to fumble the ball into an unguarded net and allow for a 2-1 score-line that went against the run of play due to a lack of Surbiton alertness in defence.

J. Molloy soon entered the fray for K. Russell who had an excellent game tiring the Dynamo centre backs with his hold-up play, but it was time for Molloy to offer an entirely different option in attack.

Wasting no time, Molloy got the ball under control and formulated an emphatic partnership with C. Banks and saw himself bearing down on goal minutes after entering the game – his first appearance since his debut hat-trick back in September. Beating a pair of defenders and wrong-footing the keeper, he was unlucky to see his shot ricochet off the far-post following an excellent effort from an acute angle.

The Surb continued to dominate, with M. Gurkkal bringing the ball down and circulating possession from midfield, but the electric pace up front nor a series of long-throws and corners could force a third Surb goal – despite one such throw looking to have crossed the line whilst smothered into the ground by the Kingston goalkeeper.

With 15 minutes to go it looked as if C. Banks was nailed on to finish the game off as he ran free and onto a perfectly-weighted J. Molloy through ball with just the goalkeeper to beat. It wasn’t to be though as he rather unselfishly squared the ball to the onrushing A. Charles who was further behind play than Banks had anticipated, meaning that Kingston could intercept the pass and leather the ball up the field for some respite.

Finally, the goal did come as another corner delivery was scrambled off the goal-line by a Kingston defender before trickling out to the edge of the box. Molloy was first to the loose ball and struck it with such precision and power that it rifled into the roof of the Kingston net and confirmed another 3 points for the Surb who should have perhaps killed the game off earlier.

That said, we walk away with 3 points all the same.

UTS x

Matchday Squad: S. Baxter, A. Banks, A. Sweeney, D. Shortt, A. Charles, N. Murphy, C. Brown, K. Topson, L. Snowdon, K. Russell, C. Banks, J. Molloy, M. Gurkkal.