Rusthall make the long journey to Hampshire to take on high-flying Fleet Town in Saturday’s FA Vase First Round tie. The Rustics go into the game on the back of a 4-0 win against Erith and Belvedere but this will be a sterner test against a team that sit top of Combined Counties Premier Division South, having won 11 of their 12 league games so far. Interestingly, two teams Rusthall have faced in recent weeks occupy 2nd and 3rd places in that league- 2nd place Knaphill who were Rusthall’s first opponents in the FA Cup this season and were seen off 3-1 at Jockey Farm, and 3rd place Redhill who were beaten 3-0 in preseason.

Lekan Osideko will be looking to continue his goalscoring form- he has 3 goals in his last 3 games. In the absence of Charlie Clover, who finds himself cup tied having played in Petts Wood and Holmesdale’s defeat to Hassocks in an earlier round, Osideko, Louie Clarke and Josh Reid will be looking to lead the attack against a Fleet Town side who don’t concede many goals.

Rusthall will look to Melksham Town for inspiration in this one as they are the only team to beat Fleet Town this season- a 0-1 home defeat seeing Fleet Town exit the FA Cup at the Extra Preliminary Round stage. With an average home attendance of over 400, it promises to be a great occasion and no doubt the traveling Rustics will be well looked after at the Easy as HGV Stadium.

With recent SCEFL success in the FA Vase with Whitstable Town winning two years ago, Rusthall will feel the competition offers a reasonable chance of success. Last season saw Rusthall exit early on, but with a spring in their step thanks to recent results, and returns, The Rustics will hope for better this season.