Kingstonian 0-1 Godalming Town

The last time I had to set the alarm to make sure I made it to a Ks game was back in 2000 when the away coach to Morecambe left Kingsmeadow at 7am. The Sunday midday kick-off for this year's opening qualifying round of the Trophy had many fans yawning in the first half, but that had more to do with the soporific display from the players than the early start.

Warning bells should certainly have been ringing once Godalming Town, bang in form, already through to the FA Cup's last qualifying round, and sitting 6th in Ryman One South, dominated the opening period and got a deserved opener in the 44th minute. Captain Adam Foulser crossed from the left and Ben Edwards, unmarked in the centre, headed past Rob Tolfrey's desperate dive.

To Ks' credit, the goal served as a wake-up call. Ali Chaaban had to depart at half-time due to illness, Simon Huckle was moved upfront and we took the direct route in search of an equaliser.

Chance after chance came and went, the best of them falling to Bashiru Alimi with 15 minutes remaining when he found himself one-on-one with the keeper but could not place his shot beyond the on-rushing Jamie Norris.

Sam Clayton also struck a fierce left-foot drive straight at the keeper, Bobby Traynor twice blasted over, Romone McCrae did the same and Tom Hutchinson went close but there was a lack of conviction until the very end when Tolfrey ran into the Godalming box to contest a corner in the final seconds. The ball landed on Gary MacDonald's head but the captain could only knock it straight at a grateful Norris.

In fact , for all the home pressure, it was Godalming who had the best chance of the second half, Scott Harris lifting the ball over a gaping goal in the 65th minute when it seemed easier to score than miss. It would be churlish to deny they deserved the upset. Ks nightmare run in the cups now stretches to a decade, but Town's knockout dream goes on.