KP continued their unexpectedly good run of form with a fine comeback win over Funk Masters on inspired by veteran striker AA Milne. Their fourth straight league win meant Infront's charges are behind Lytham Rovers merely on goal difference, which sets up next week's six-pointer at The Avenue nicely.
Having sufficiently fought off Gladiators to reach the third round of the cup last Thursday, it was back to the day job for the Poets on Sunday evening, albeit the opening half was a fairly stolid affair with the hosts offering the only real chance of the half with AA Milne shooting just wide, though the striker's moment was to come later.
The visitors were happy to sit fairly deep in the opening half, but they were a different prospect after the break, showing a willingness to break forward when the KP attacks broke down. It was not entirely surprising therefore when, with the game approaching the hour mark, the visitors struck a hammer blow, with Diesma threading through a delightful ball into the path of the aptly named Speedy Gonzalez, who showed a clean pair of heels to the KP back four, then clipping a wonderful chip over the onrushing Pablo Bonara to put his side one up in off the far post.
KP suddenly seemed to wake up but with a quarter hour remaining, they were still trailing. However, Milne was able to provide a piece of individual magic that turned the game with just 13 minutes remaining. KD Smith pressed in midfield and the ball broke free for him in the centre circle. One quick glance saw Milne one-on-one with Wams, and Smith's immediate lofted pass put Milne through on the right edge of the box, the striker taking one touch to control before emphatically smashing home in off the bar from 12 yards.
With their tails now up, KP bombed forward and within three minutes, the turnaround was complete. Michele Birindelli managed to wriggle free of his marker for once and fed Smith on the right. His immediate cross was destined to be tucked home by Milne at the far post, but instead the unfortunate Vragtrijder, in trying to help his defence by tracking back, succeeded in merely deflecting the ball into his own net.
Milne was deserving of the congratulations of his teammates despite not actually scoring the goal, and he then had a curious hat trick when he caused the third KP goal by drawing the foul by Alverö on 88 minutes that resulted in a penalty for the home side which was clinically dispatched by Birindelli.
"I was most pleased with the persistence of the team," said Infront Cat after the game, "they could easily have sulked when they went one down, but instead picked themselves up and saw off an excellent opponent."
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