The long journey to Crown Meadow, England’s easternmost football ground, often leads to slow starts by visiting teams and Kingstonian fell into the familiar routine on Saturday, losing 2-0 at Lowestoft Town, despite dominating most of the match.

Town took the lead on the half-hour, Jake Reed converting a cross by the impressive Robert Eagle, non-league Suffolk’s David Silva, who flitted between the lines all afternoon with a cultured left-foot.

Overrun in the middle for long spells, K’s gradually began to impose a different pattern.

Josh Casey, signed from Bashley in midweek, struck the bar with a swerving drive while Charlie Knight’s forays down the left started to stretch the opposition full-back.

The game’s critical moment came with half an hour remaining when winger Knight cut inside, rode two fouls and struck a deflected right-foot effort into the top corner.
 

But the referee had blown his whistle just as Knight was poised to shoot, much to the bemusement of the K’s bench who had every right to expect the advantage to be played. Tommy Kavanagh lifted the ensuing free-kick into the car park.

With five minutes remaining, and K’s still looking likely to equalise, Town broke away to make it two through Lee Smith.

But this was not a performance to leave manager Alan Dowson downhearted – albeit the finishing by his prized front two was bafflingly lacklustre.

Both Andre McCollin and Ryan Moss missed one-on-ones by gently passing the ball into the grateful keeper’s arms.

Bruce Hogg, a left-back signed from Carshalton, had a hugely encouraging debut, marauding with balance and strength.

His emergence may prove crucial over the coming months as the league campaign enters a winter of scraps and scrapes.

Fourth position in the league is no disgrace but, after this fourth defeat of the campaign, it’s time to put an unbeaten run together, starting with Leiston at home next Saturday.