Kingstonian striker Tim Sills was left with mixed emotions after Saturday's derby victory over rivals Sutton United.

The forward gave his side the lead with only nine minutes of the game gone and added a second nine minutes later.

But Sills' joy turned to despair when he was sent off for a second bookable offence.

"It was total disbelief," said Sills. "I'd never been sent off before and I felt helpless as I walked off the pitch.

"The tackle (for his first card) was perhaps a foul, but not worthy of a booking."

Sills criticised referee Chris Salt's handling of the match, which also saw Ks captain Peter Barnsby sent off and several other bookings.

"The referee simply got excited," said Sills. "It was not that sort of match and the reaction of the fans, booing him at the end of the game, said it all."

But Sills was happy to have got on the scoresheet in such an important game and said: "For the first one, I jumped too early. But I was able to stay in the air long enough to direct my header towards goal."

His second strike a flick with the side of his boot from James Pinnock's corner was equally impressive.

"I would love to say it was practised on the training field, but it wasn't we don't even have a training field," joked Sills, who has been rejoined at Kingsmeadow this week by striker Ronnie Green.

Green, 21, fell out of favour with previous Ks boss Steve Sedgley and has spent much of this season on loan with Carshalton and Dulwich Hamlet.

But he is determined to repay manager Kim Harris's faith in him and was back in attack for last Saturday's derby game.

"It was great to be come straight back into the first team, especially for such a big match," said the telesales worker. "I have enjoyed being on loan, but I always wanted to return to Ks.

"Steve Sedgley made it clear I didn't fit in with his plans. I accepted that and believe changing clubs for a while has made me a better player.

"But it gives me great peace of mind to know Kim wants me here and I want to repay his confidence by scoring goals."

Green was paired up front on Saturday with 20-goal Sills and fans were treated to glimpses of the partnership's potential.

"Tim and I can strike up a good understanding because he's strong in the air, whereas I rely more on my pace and can latch on to his flick-ons," he said. "We complement each other and he will always create chances, which, hopefully, I can finish off.

"Tim's dismissal was very harsh and the referee was diabolical. He never seemed to control the game. But I enjoyed being back, helping the lads get three points."

Ks travel to Basingstoke tomorrow and Green believes they can still figure in the Premier Division title race.

"If we go on a good run, we can finish the season as champions because the top teams are faltering," he said.

January 31, 2003 11:00