Rusthall are back in action at Jockey Farm on Saturday following mixed results in their previous two away games. Last Saturday’s 3-0 defeat at Phoenix Sports was one to forget, but Tuesday evening’s scintillating win at SE Dons will live long in the memory of all who were there. That 3-1 victory came after the news that Jack Kirby had departed for pastures new- a step up to the Isthmian League just reward for several years of top-drawer service for the Rustics. Rusthall will have to rally again after the news that Yassin Fares has also moved on and up to Maldon and Tiptree at Step 3. Thompson Adeyemi, Lekan Osideko and Christian Lawal stepped up on Tuesday to score three fantastic goals to see off an SE Dons team who looked short of ideas.
Whether or not Jimmy Anderson brings in new faces ahead of this one, players like Josh Reid, Christian Lawal, Louie Clarke, Rajan Sahni and Daniel Atta now have the chance to step up and take the creative reins held for so long by Kirby and Fares. All are capable of brilliance and the Rusthall faithful will hope to see just that on Saturday afternoon.
At the same time as Rusthall were storming the garrison on Tuesday night, Faversham Strike Force were labouring to a late defeat at home to Hollands and Blair. That made it 4 defeats in 9 league games for Strike Force, with no victories on grass at all so far this season. Their previous games on the traditional surface have seen them lose heavily at Bearsted, and draw against Larkfield and New Hythe. They have also played at The Culverden- this match ended in a draw.
Last season’s game between the two sides at Jockey Farm fell on exactly the same weekend of 2025- Rusthall triumphed 7-0 that day with Clarke and Reid amongst the scorers that day. Jimmy Anderson will hope for something approaching a repeat of that result, rather than the score line when Rusthall travelled to Whitstable to take on Strike Force in March- that 1-0 defeat will make the Rustics wary of the threat they could face.
Josh Oliver will be a goal threat to look out for- his four goals have helped take Faversham to 8th place in the league after nine games. A point further ahead but having played two games fewer are The Rustics- well placed in 6th with games in hand on teams above them. With bottom-of-the-table Erith and Belvedere at home next week, these will be crucial games to build momentum ahead of a trip to Fleet Town in the FA Vase on 10th October.