After a run of four games at home, Rusthall venture to Bexleyheath on Saturday afternoon to take on Phoenix Sports. Going into the game on the back of three straight wins, Rusthall will be looking for another 3 points to take them up the league, while Phoenix will hope to improve their fortunes having gone winless in their last three league outings.

A good performance on Tuesday night saw the Rustics beat Beckenham Town fairly comfortably with goals coming from Josh Reid, Yassin Fares and Jack Kirby. Tom Benham made his debut for the club and performed well, making an excellent penalty save, an even better stop from the rebound, and denying a certain goal with a great save from a close-range header.

Phoenix gained a good point at home on Tuesday night by holding AFC Greenwich borough to a goal a piece. Before that, Phoenix joined Rusthall in the first round proper of the FA Vase by beating Billingshurst 4-3 in an entertaining game- they will play Penn & Tyler's Green while Rusthall travel to Fleet Town on Saturday 10th October. An otherwise tricky start to the season has seen Phoenix lose five of their seven games in the league so far, their sole win coming against Beckenham Town. They sit second bottom in 17th place on 4 points, just below Tunbridge Wells who have tumbled down the league after a heavy defeat to Sutton Athletic on Wednesday.

Rusthall meanwhile climbed to 8th place after the midweek games and still have games in hand on many of the teams above them. Away trips to Snodland Town and Corinthian brought no goals or points so Jimmy Anderson will hope his team have got their travelling boots on this week. Last season's trip to the Mayplace Ground was not a happy one for Rusthall- a 4-0 defeat coming at a time when key players were missing and Phoenix were in great form.

Rusthall's impressive away following will no-doubt turn up in number once again, hoping to see a victory which would put Rusthall in a good place ahead of a return trip to the area for Tuesday night's game against SE Dons at the former home of VCD Athletic.

Simon Howe

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