“Never again” were the words Kingstonian goalkeeping coach Matt Lovett used to describe his return to the football field after a near three year absence from first team football.

The 34-year-old came out of retirement to keep a cleansheet in Saturday’s 0-0 FA Cup second round draw at Romford that paved the way for Monday’s night’s 5-3 extra-time replay triumph at Kingsmeadow.

Lovett, who joined the Ks coaching staff in the summer, came on as a first half substitute after Rob Tolfrey was knocked unconscious in Essex, having been named on the bench in the absence of regular understudy Ben Dudzinski.

But, despite playing a key role in the club’s progress to a third qualifying round clash at home to Conference South Eastbourne Borough, the former Hampton & Richmond Borough star hopes he will not be repeating his heroics anytime soon.

“I haven’t conceded a goal for three years now,” he said this week.

“I played half a game for Farnborough last year and the last time played before that I broke my leg and I thought then that was my body telling me enough was enough.

“When it was obvious Ben was not going to be able to to get back from university I had a funny feeling I would be called on, because it was the first time I was asked to be a substitute.

“It was nice to play again because you do miss it, but I’m self-employed as a taxi driver now so I cannot afford to get injured.

“I’m registered to play, so I will help out in an emergency, but that is all.”

Lovett was named on the bench for Monday’s cup replay as back up to Dudzinski, but was relieved the game went without incident from a personal point of view.

“It was bad enough playing 80 minutes, but to play twice in three days would have been a bit much to ask,” he added.

Lovett suffered a cruciate knee ligament injury in October 2011 and broke his tibia and fibula on his return to action in April 2012 to end a playing career featuring two Conference South play-off final appearances and an FA Cup first round defeat to Dagenham & Redbridge.