The match was billed as Whites' 'cup final', and defeat left them looking extremely likely to be facing their third relegation in four years. With only 15 points on the board, and another 15 needed just to reach safety, a minor miracle is needed to prevent the inevitable.

Optimism was high prior to kick off, with Paul Armstrong and Craig Cloke fit enough to return to the team. There were also places in the side for Stuart Maynard and Nick Grime, as Hickman, Hamshare and James Rogers were pushed to the bench, and Sam Vallance was left out completely.

The game started with chances immediately for both sides, as they pressed for the early advantage. Hyde was forced to save a free kick from Player-Manager Scott Steele, and then down the other end, Armstrong was put through one-on-one. However, Kingstonian keeper Nick Hart saved his shot, and it looked as though there could be a number of goals in the match.

A defensive mistake then let Kenny Ojukwa in, forcing Hyde to touch his shot round the post, and before even 10 minutes had been played, the visitors had had a goal disallowed, and Victor Renner saw his shot well saved by the keeper. This really was an exciting start, one in which both sides could easily have taken the lead.

Hyde was again called upon to clear the danger following a goalmouth scramble, as the visitors pushed for the breakthrough. Good work by Dean Palmer then set up Armstrong, who saw his shot deflected over the keeper, but it was cleared off of the line by Bashiru Alimi.

The vital first goal arrived in the 24^th minute, and it went to the visitors. Another corner for the K's caused havoc in the area, and it was left to Kenny Ojukwa to bundle in at the near post.

However, the chance to draw level came after half an hour. Armstrong did really well to cross from the left to Nick Grime who was free in the centre of the area. But somehow, he managed to head wide with the goal gaping, and it really looked like it wasn't to be Whites' day.

This feeling was exacerbated when another marauding run by Palmer led to a superb cross from the right to Victor Renner. Like Grime minutes earlier, he was free in the centre, but again the header went just wide. The despair of the Whites fans was increasing.

The final chance of the half fell to the visitors though, as Hyde was again called into action. This time it was from a James Rose back post header, but Hyde was equal to it.

Whites had the ball in the back of the net minutes after the second period had begun. The ball was played back into the area following a corner, and Armstrong headed the ball over the keeper and in, but he was offside.

Whites continued to take control of the half, and minutes later another chance went begging. The ball was teed up for Stuart Maynard on the edge of the box, and his volley smacked against the bar. Braithwaite then hit the woodwork too, as his cross looked like it may sneak in over the keeper, but it also hit the bar.

Just as the Whites were pushing for the equaliser, and doing everything but score, the K's got the all-important second goal. A cross was not dealt with properly, and the ball bounced out to Captain Giles Coke to poke the ball home from 12-yards.

Although the game looked beyond them, Whites continued to press forward. Jude Sterling hit a curling shot that was tipped round the post, whilst Steve Browne bought Rogers and Hamshare on to replace Grime and Maynard.

As Whites committed more and more men forward, gaps were being left at the back. This left space for Giles Coke to force a save out of Hyde, and Luke Muldowney was allowed a free header at a corner, but he put it wide.

With only five minutes of normal time left on the clock, Whites got a goal back. A good through ball by Gavin Rose set up Dean Palmer, who took a touch and slotted home.

The goal gave the side a lift, and minutes later the equaliser almost came. Armstrong was again the threat, but a last ditch tackle by Bashiru Alimi stopped the danger.

A few bookings and substitutions broke up the play in injury time, making it harder for the Whites to attempt an equaliser. Moments before the final whistle though, it almost came, following a Braithwaite cross. It found Dean Palmer in the middle, but Bashiru Alimi blocked his shot on its way into the corner of the net, even though the defender got a touch on it by accident.

But the equaliser did not materialise, which meant that Whites were sent to the bottom of the table, with Kingstonian leap-frogging them. This also spelt the end of Steve Browne's time in charge of the club, as new Chairman Jim Parmenter decided that his record was not good enough. Clive Walker has now been appointed manager again, our fourth manager of the season, and hopefully he will be given time, as we need a settled manager.