Harry Kingdom’s spectacular effort secured all three points as Simon Halsey’s side came from behind to beat Canterbury City at Salters Lane.

The watching fans were split as to whether Kingdom’s goal was a cross or a shot but whatever the truth, the ball proved to be impossible for City keeper Charlie Wealands to keep out, and despite a desperate effort the ball went from the keeper’s finger tips onto the back post and into the net.

Blair came from behind after Tim Backford deservedly put the home side ahead with their fourth good chance of the first half but Canterbury were only ahead for a matter of minutes when Callum McGeehan beat Wealands with a back header from Ben Brown’s free kick.

The equaliser rocked the home side and when Kingdom’s cross shot found the net it really did sum up the home side’s night as they slipped to their third straight League defeat to remain pointless towards the foot of the early SCEFL table.

For Blair, who are still reeling from being dumped out of the FA Cup by not playing COVID victims Burgess Hill Town, the three points took the Gillingham side into the top five.

The home side started the brighter – Billy Lewin volleyed just over and Danny Keyte’s shot cleared the bar from the edge of the box before their best early chance fell to Backford who muscled through on the edge of the box only to see his lob beat keeper Mark Sutton but bounced wide.

The keeper then bravely denied Liam Quinn on the very edge of the box whilst at the other end Danny Kedwell was denied by Wealands’ merest of touches as he shot first time from a knock down.

Backford then put Canterbury in front – holding off the defenders strongly after being played in, but the lead was to last a matter of minutes before McGeehan headed Blair level.

The second half was a much cagier affair with chances few and when the sides did create something, the defences at both ends just about held firm.

You sensed it would take something different to break the deadlock, and substitute Kingdom duly obliged as his “cross” got caught on the wind and via Wealands’ fingertips nestled in the back of the net.

Canterbury tried to draw level but the Blair defence wasn’t going to be breached for a second time and at the final whistle, Halsey’s side had ended a difficult week for the club with at least three more SCEFL points – whether the FA grant them a seemingly right FA Cup reprieve however is something else to debate on another day.

CANTERBURY CITY – Wealands, Turner (Page), McCallum, Quinn, Anoah, Walder, Woollcott, Page, Keyte, Backford (Odin), Lewin (Smith)

Subs – Austin, Bepe

HOLLANDS & BLAIR – Sutton, Loynes (Kingdom), Kane, Connor Heffernan, Cameron Heffernan, McGeehan, Simon, Brown, Kedwell (Saunders), Freeman (Rogers), Valencia

Subs – Harvey, Kingdom