Soccer: Late goal crowns season for Kingz

By TERRY MADDAFORD

A 2-1 away win over Parramatta last night gave the Football Kingz the end-of-season result they wanted.

Out of the race for a place in the top-six playoffs, the Kingz nevertheless were determined to end their inaugural National Soccer League season on a high. A last-minute goal from substitute Lee Jones did just that.

Earlier, man-of-the-moment Aaron Silva - who will learn of his future with the club today - had given the Kingz a deserved lead with a 30th-minute goal.

It was Silva's 11th of the season and cemented his place as the team's top goalscorer.

Fred de Jong, who bade farewell to a tremendous career in this part of the world and in Europe, had a couple of half-chances but failed to find the net in a game played in a competitive spirit despite nothing hanging on the outcome.

With six players booked, there was no suggestion this was a light-hearted, end-of-season romp.

The victory completed a good double for the Wynton Rufer-coached side who had beaten Parramatta 4-0 at home last month, a game in which Silva notched the club's only hat-trick of the season.

After taking the vital first-half lead last night, the Kingz let the David Mitchell-coached Power back in with a well-headed goal 15 minutes from time.

But just when it seemed the points would be shared, Jones, who had replaced Riki Van Steeden in one of three second-half substitutions - Chris Jackson and John Lammers also saw some action in the last 45 minutes - grabbed the winner to ensure the Kingz their 15th win of the season.

"We deserved to win," said assistant coach Shane Rufer. "It has been a great season for the Kingz and the country ...

"It has not been easy over the past week with some players spitting the dummy, but the players we put out did well. They played as a team, even if it was difficult not having Wynton out there to help."

While de Jong is adamant his time is up, the Rufers are keen to keep him involved.

Finding a player to do the job he has managed so well in this debut season will be a real challenge.

But in finishing in the top half of the table, the Kingz can look back with real satisfaction.