Rusthall (1) 1 Mitchell 45
Glebe (1) 1 Tobon 16
Attendance: 268
Entrance: £2 Senior
Programme: £1
Mileage: 46/7,610
Match Report
This match was originally scheduled for a couple of weeks ago but was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch. One wonders how many people might have attended that night as this fixture perhaps had the edge taken off it with successive defeats for Rusthall and the competition of Germany v England one terrestrial television. As it was, a record 268 people were willing to turn their back on a meaningless international friendly to watch a game that was always competitive with Rusthall probably feeling the more aggrieved not to collect the full three points.
A cagey opening was a foretaste of the game to unfold as neither side really created anything of note in the opening 15 minutes, but a long punt through the middle from Glebe’s James Day sent Andreas Tobon clear and one-on-one with the Rusthall goalkeeper, Callum Christie. The Glebe man showed great composure to round the keeper and finish into the empty goal.
Playing up the sizeable slope, Rusthall worked their way back into the game but were struggling to create any clear chances. Glebe, however, did create a couple that might have wrapped up the game before the break. Day capitalised on a poor clearance from Christie but shot wide and after 38 minutes, Rusthall’s Luke Stratford saw yellow when he thwarted a Glebe breakaway with a professional foul.
Rusthall, though, deserved their equaliser that came on the stroke of half-time. Dan Mitchell, who won headers all evening, finally got a cross of quality to work with from John Phillips and buried his header past Adam Molloy, who seemed to go down to save in stages.
Certainly knowing that a point would not be much use to them, Rusthall made a concerted effort to win the game in the second period. Within two minutes of the restart Mitchell mis-kicked in front of goal with Phillips blasting the second attempt over the bar.
All the chances fell Rusthall’s way until the 71st minute when Glebe were awarded a penalty when Ryan Golding was brought down by John Lord. The resultant spot kick was crashed against the bar by Aaron Jeffrey. The penalty award appeared harsh so perhaps justice was served.
Rusthall staged a late rally but never really threatened which made it all the more perplexing when Molloy got so vexed over the awarding of a corner that he earned himself a yellow and then talked his way to a red following the final whistle.
With talk that both K Sports and Kent Football United will be denied promotion through differing reasons of ground grading, it is quite probable that both of these sides will eventually find their way into the Southern Counties East Premier.
As a senior citizen, I only paid £2 plus a quid for a very decent programme and another quid for a cuppa. Blooming good value for a night's entertainment.
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