If Kingstonian do reach the Ryman Premier League play-offs they will do it in the face of adversity.

Wins over Peacehaven & Telscombe and Billericay Town on Saturday and Monday have them two points off fifth placed Grays Athletic, but they came at a price.

Pelayo Pico Gomez scored two goals in each game with his second double – at Billericay – coming inside the opening half an hour of a 2-0 triumph.

Unfortunately, Malachi Hudson, influential on the left in recent weeks, collected a red card for retaliation in that same time frame forcing Ks into a rearguard action for more than an hour.

It means the former Walton Casuals star, below, will collect a three-game suspensio,n which looks set to include the first leg of any potential play-off appearance.

Couple that with a potentially lengthy ban for goalkeeper Rob Tolfrey, and boss Tommy Williams could be forgiven for fearing the worst.

“Malachi was causing them a lot of problems and there was a bit of afters off the ball,” he said.

“He got shoved into the advertising hoardings and he reacted by shoving the opposition player in the back.

“The lad made the most of it and went over. He needs to learn from that. It was a bit harsh, but you cannot raise your arms and the ref has had to make a decision.

“It is a shame because Malachi has started to find a bit of form for us. He will play the next three Saturday-Monday-Saturday, but he will miss the last two game and the first play-off match.”

The backs-to-the-wall effort in Kent, added to the convincing 3-0 win at home to Peacehaven & Telscombe has Ks convinced they can continue that form into an Easter weekend featuring the visit of mid-table Canvey Island on Saturday and Monday’s trip to relegation-threatened Hampton & Richmond Borough.

Ks fans will be hoping for maximum points once again given there are only five games remaining, but Williams reckons it will be easier said than done.

“Any win at Billericay is a good one. Sides managed by Craig Edwards are always going to be strong, physical and well organised teams,” he said.

“Sides are going ot filter out of contention in the coming weeks and that win has lifted us away from them.

“It has lifted us up the table and given the lads a lift too. It has lifted their belief that we can actually achieve what we are aiming for. The boys believe it can happen.

“Every game is tough now. Hampton are trying to pick up points for very different reasons, so it will be tight.”