First Team
Matches
Sat 11 Feb 2023  ·  Premier Division
Rusthall Football Club
First Team
2
2
Sutton Athletic
SHARE OF THE POINTS WITH SUTTON ATHLETIC ON SATURDAY

SHARE OF THE POINTS WITH SUTTON ATHLETIC ON SATURDAY

Club Admin14 Feb 2023 - 07:09
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Rusthall maintained their unbeaten record thanks to a 90th minute goal from leading scorer Louis Clarke in a strange sort of game that neither side were able to dominate.

Richard Smith provides us with his account…

The game started badly for the Rustics when in just the 4th minute a normal looking challenge saw right back Louis Anderson stay down and straight away it looked very serious. He was stretchered off with what turned out to be a dislocated knee cap, which could well see him miss the rest of the season. Rusthall were forced to make positional changes with winger Reuel Powell-Downey coming on.

The long stoppage seemed to upset both teams with neither side able to gain any sort of control. As the half went on the Rustics began to play their normal quick passing game with Tommy Lawrence instrumental in building attacking moves, but it was not until deep into stoppage time in the first half that the deadlock was broken. From a patient build up down the right the ball was played into Clarke and his first time flick found Luke Miller who knocked it past the defender who stuck out an arm and the referee had no hesitation in awarding a free kick some 22 yards out and quite central. It was left to young Italian winger Yassin Fares to take and he curled an unstoppable free kick into the top right hand corner to give the home side the lead.

The visitors started the 2nd half strongly and levelled on 59 minutes, Rusthall conceded a sloppy free kick just outside the area and Connor Evans free kick nestled into the bottom corner with Rusthall keeper Tommy Taylor somehow beaten at the far post. Rusthall were rocked at this stage but showed their commitment by getting back on top with the in form Tariq Ibrahim causing Sutton all sorts of problems with his jinking runs and superb probing passes. But disaster struck for the home side when Lawrence was adjudged to have handled in the area when attempting to head clear and Sutton's leading scorer Arlie Desanges made no mistake from the penalty spot.

But this young Rusthall side have great character and never give up, and despite losing skipper James White to the sin bin for something he said to the referee they went in search of a deserved equaliser. They were rewarded for their efforts in the 90th minute when Ibrahim picked the ball up on the halfway line and went on an amazing run towards the Sutton box before drawing the centre half out of position and slotting an inch perfect ball through to Clarke who didn't even have to break his stride before slotting a left footed shot past the advancing keeper. 

While the point was enough to keep the Rustics in 2nd place there are several teams with games in hand that can go above them including Deal Town who visit the Jockey Farm Stadium on Wednesday and Erith Town who are the visitors on Saturday. Despite this, the Rustics are still well on course for a top 5 finish which would be amazing given their struggle to avoid relegation last season.

Rusthall stuck with manager Jimmy Anderson who brought in Ollie Saunders as his assistant at the start of this season and the pair have put together a very talented young squad who are all eager to improve as the club continue to progress both on and off of the pitch.

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Match details

Match date

Sat 11 Feb 2023

Kickoff

15:00

Attendance

183

Competition

Premier Division

League position

2
Rusthall
9
Sutton Athletic
Team overview
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