Rusthall secured a vital three points to cap a week to remember, following up SCEFL Challenge Cup glory and an away win at The Culverden with another win against a Glebe side who showed much more than their 16th place in the table might suggest.

Cup final hero, Josh Reid, was missing for this one- he was replaced by Yassin Fares who started a game for the first time since a 4-3 win over Tunbridge Wells back in January, with Louie Clarke dropping to the bench to be replaced by Reuel Powell-Downey.

It was a slow start for Rusthall who perhaps took a moment to adjust to the slightly generic environment Foxbury has become since the installation of the 3G pitch. Glebe on the other hand were playing nicely, popping the ball around with precision, Khavarn Williams a constant threat with trickery and direct running on the left-hand side. Rahman Kareem was more than up to the task of keeping Williams relatively quiet but it was clear Glebe possessed some talented players who were capable of causing danger. Rusthall were lucky to escape when an attempt to play out from the back went awry- the ball ended up rolling harmlessly wide but the threat was there. Glebe took the lead following a bit of a lapse at the back- when the ball wasn’t cleared properly, Nathan Mampono was there to prod home and Rusthall were deservedly behind. A hangover from two brilliant results would have been understandable but with a win crucial to Rusthall’s hopes of securing a playoff spot, Jimmy Anderson’s men quickly rallied and got on the front foot.

On 22 minutes, the away side’s endeavour paid off and the equaliser arrived. A good ball played forward was controlled expertly by Jack Kirby who played in Reuel Powell-Downey-he beat his man and fired a low, dangerous cross across the box, past the grasp of Nathan Edwards and onto the foot of Charlie Clover who guided the ball home. Serine Sanneh was called into action to palm the ball away from a strong drive and it was all square at the break- a break in which the Rusthall fans decamped to the clubhouse to enjoy fine hospitality and to watch the Grand National. Some were happy as ‘I am Maximus’ crossed the line in first but all in green and white were delighted when Yassin Fares gave the Rustics the lead, even if some of them missed the goal so early in the second half did it arrive. Robbie Bissett claimed yet another assist as his perfect through ball found the Italian magician who fired home with ease.

The rest of the game was entertaining fare despite the rain and hail which briefly soaked the plastic surface and the lack of clear-cut chances for either side. Glebe went close to finding an equaliser when a long shot was saved well by Sanneh but the ball spilled into a dangerous area- fortunately for Rusthall, Daniel Blunn was there to clear and Jamie Philpot remained in his pocket. More good work from Powell-Downey led to Rusthall’s best chance when he skipped around his fullback and whipped in yet another fine cross- this time Charlie Clover couldn’t quite meet it to turn it home. Jeffrey Njugunawas hugely influential in the middle, constantly in the right place to break up Glebe’s impressive passing, and able to set the ball forward to spark attacks. Only recently returned to the club, the popular Njuguna has already proven his worth- performing admirably in the cup final and then filling in at fullback on Easter Monday, and putting in a top performance today.

In many ways, today’s win was just as important as the two before it with nearly all the sides at the top of the table winning today. The race for the playoffs will continue to be a hotly contested one but Jimmy Anderson will no doubt have eyes only on Tuesday evening’s fixture against Stansfeldwhere another three points will be the target before a rematch with Bearsted at Jockey Farm on Saturday 18th April.

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