There was more late-goal drama for Rusthall to make it a couple of crackers either side of Christmas for all in green and white. Following last week’s thrilling 3-2 victory over Larkfield and New Hythe, this time it was Bearsted who were defeated late in the day, despite Rusthall seeing their lead slip in the 94th minute. This was another show of togetherness, of determination, of a willingness to give everything, and the impressive away following- who made up a significant proportion of the crowd, and all of the noise- loved every minute of it.

Consistent team selection has been a key element of recent success for the Rustics and it was the same line-up as last week who strode out confidently onto the quality surface of a significantly narrowed Honey Lane pitch. Rusthall perhaps took a while to settle and it was Bearsted who were in first- a good ball forward from Jason Banton found the diminutive Sam Stace whose shot was guided wide by the chest of Robbie Bissett. The next opportunity fell the way of the away side- a throw in from Louis Anderson was expertly controlled by Steadman Callender who found Frank Griffin with a clever pass- Griffin’s control was first class but his shot flew narrowly wide. It was Callender who went close soon after having initially done well to play in Anderson down the right- the ball fell back to Callender who shot well but again, it fell just the wrong side of the post. More sloppy play from Bearsted presented Rusthall with their next chance- the excellent Kalani Barton intercepted a woeful pass out of defence and immediately drove towards goal. He turned this way and that, the Bearsted back line got themselves in a tangle, but Barton’s shot was too close to Frankie Leonard who was able to turn the ball over the bar.

Despite the quality of the surface, there were plenty of players finding it hard to stay on two feet. Mustafa Hashemi was unfortunate to be booked for what looked like a slip rather than a malicious tackle and captain Robbie Bissett was also booked for his protests- both would have to be careful to avoid further punishment. This incident proved to be the beginning of the end for Bearsted’s number 5 who took it upon himself to get in the referee’s face at every opportunity from thereon in- behaviour which caught the attention of the Rusthall faithful whose Christmas spirit was slightly diminished shortly before halftime when Bearsted took the lead. A hopeful ball was pumped aimlessly forward by James Nurden and it somehow fell the way of Jesse Darko who managed to shove an off-balance Dan Blunn off the ball before rolling it back to Eniola Hassan who finished well into the corner. Someone should perhaps have told the handful of home fans they had scored, as the silence that greeted the opener was rather deafening. A lead they scarcely deserved was taken into the break but it always felt like Rusthall had more to come- in truth, despite some decent chances, it was far from their best half of football.

The second half was a different animal and, on the hour, Rusthall were deservedly level. Frank Griffin won the ball in the middle of the park and, as he always seems to, had time to pick his pass. Kalani Barton was the recipient and, as he always seems to, immediately looked to threaten, with a driving, jinking run past two Bearsted defenders. From 12 yards out, he struck, but his shot was parried by Leonard only to see the ball fall to dangerman Charlie Clover who managed to hook a left foot volley past the despairing reach of the Bearsted keeper. Rusthall tails were up, the crowd were lively, and Bearsted were rocked. By this point, with the away fans on his back, Bearsted’s number 5 had capitulated, his every move, attempted pass, or regular blunder cheered to the rafters of the Mike Anthony stand. The next goal came from a corner which was delivered with unerring accuracy by Louis Anderson. The towering presence of Robbie Bissett stood his ground under pressure before nodding the ball into the corner and running over to the away fans whose Christmas spirit had been restored.

Bearsted attempted to get back into the game but with such poor delivery from the back and with Serine Sanneh in position to stop them when shots did come in, it looked like Rusthall would see the game out comfortably. Football however, is rarely that straightforward and so it proved as the clock ticked towards the end of the game. Another long ball forward could perhaps have been dealt with better by the Rusthall defence and it eventually fell the way of Jason Banton who cut in from the left and fired an unstoppable drive past Sanneh and into the bottom corner. Number 5 was delighted, despite having played absolutely no part in the equalising goal and having put in a performance of incredibly low quality throughout the second half. His decision to give it back to the away fans would prove rather foolish as he didn’t count on the Rusthall players rolling their sleeves up, kicking off, finding Barton and winning a freekick. He, like most in the ground, probably didn’t expect Kalani Barton to employ American Football tactics for the set piece- with Barton ‘in motion’, Bearsted didn’t know who to mark and, when another fantastic set-piece delivery was swung in by Louis Anderson, there was chaos through which Barton bundled, helping himself to a winning finish after Robbie Bissett’s excellent header was clawed off the line by Leonard. Bearsted attempted to grab another equaliser but Kalani Barton wasn’t finished yet. Serine Sanneh kicked long and found Charlie Clover who won the battle to head the ball into the path of Rusthall’s number 11. Barton again drove forward- no taking it to the corner for him- before playing an unselfish pass to Clover who expertly dinked the ball over Leonard to make it 4-2 in the 97th minute.

Another important three points were the reward for Rusthall’sendeavour and the players and crowd celebrated joyously together. The win moves Rusthall into the top half of the league and six points clear of near neighbours, Tunbridge Wells, who will surely be hoping to get back on their feet in the new year. Next up for Rusthall is a home game against Hollands and Blair on Saturday 4th January where Jimmy Anderson and his players will be looking to bring the solid away form to The Jockey Farm Stadium.

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