Rusthall progressed to the next round of the FA Vase thanks to a penalty shoot-out win over fellow SCEFL Premier Division side, K Sports.

After a 2-2 draw, the game was settled with five perfect penalties from the Rustics, and a superb penalty save from Tommy Taylor.

Following four defeats in a row, Rusthall were keen to get back to winning ways and they began in dominant fashion. Ashley Sheppard, making his first start since his return from Sheppey, ran the game with consummate ease from the middle of the park, and Dwan Archer offered an immediate threat with his ability to bring the ball under his spell and drive forward. On ten minutes, Rusthall took the lead. A corner was delivered by Rory Salter, and Louie Clarke was in the right place to nod the ball past the keeper. Rusthall should really have made more of their dominance but couldn’t quite find the right pass- when they did, Clarke was incorrectly adjudged to be offside and a freekick was awarded. A hopeful punt up-field was not dealt with by the Rusthall defence and when the ball was shuffled to the edge of the area, the K Sports attacker let fly- Taylor in goal was only able to watch as it flew into the top corner. Rusthall remained on-top throughout the remainder of the first half but were unable to retake the lead.

The second half began in fairly uninspiring fashion- Reuel Powell-Downey tried to force openings down the left-hand side but no clear-cut opportunities presented themselves. On the hour though, Rusthall went 2-1 up- a bit of a scramble in the box led to James White dinking a clever pass to Dwan Archer who buried it with aplomb. The away side weren’t able to extend the lead further however, and when a corner for K Sports was headed goalward, Luke Miller found himself on the goal line with a decision to make. Whether he handled the ball intentionally was hard to judge but the penalty was given, followed by a red card for Miller. A successful spot-kick meant the scores were level and K Sports began to make the most of having a man extra.
Ashley Sheppard was forced off with cramp and was replaced by the fresh legs of Tommy Lawrence- Powell-Downey also made way for Addo Amankwah. The Rustics had to dig deep to stay in the game but nearly snatched an unlikely winner with the very last kick of the game. Dwan Archer received the ball and played a clever through-ball for Louie Clarke who cut back in expertly- his curled effort was well-saved by the keeper and the whistle blew for fulltime.

Buoyed by the healthy away support, Dwan Archer stepped up to take the first penalty of the shootout and duly dispatched it. Tommy Taylor then made himself a hero by diving to the left to tip the first K Sports penalty onto the post and away. Conor Johnson, Tommy Lawrence and Calvin Gatiba all converted successfully which meant it was Clarke with the chance to win the game. It was never in doubt- his confident strike nestled in the corner and the victory was confirmed.
This was an important win achieved the hard way, but a win nonetheless.

Focus now turns back to the league when Rusthall face Phoenix Sports at The Jockey Farm Stadium on Wednesday evening.

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