Match Report: Rusthall at Foxbury,Tuesday6thMarch 2018
The Beast of the East had moved from the south leaving Bromley fans a two hundred plus mile journey north to find their F.A.Trophy replay at Spennymoor had gone west. Meanwhile the weather in Kent had returned to something like a state of bland normality and with a well sanded but otherwise superb looking pitch, the Rustics of Rusthall made their way from the Garden of England, their short journey only subject to the vagaries of the M25.
These lads really were rustic: tree like in stature, covered in gnarled bark. The league were prepared and duly sent along a six foot, two twenty pound ‘lino’, shaven headed and emblazoned with tattoos. Game on.
Sam Edwards returned to the side replacing Derek Duncan with Max Fitz taking the skipper’s armband. This is midweek football and the bench was down to three. There was a Glebe welcome to former England youth international, Osei Sankofa, who joined Anwar in the dug out.
The match started at a lively pace from which it rarely dropped. Both teams were willing to pass the ball around. The first chance came after six minutes when Zepo set up Sweeney who was just wide. Peter was to go closer after eight minutes. By his standards he made poor contact and the ball bobbled towards the keeper who contrived to let it through his arms and into the corner. They all count.
Goal: Glebe 1 Rustics 0
It proved to be a physical encounter and the ref did well to keep the card count down. Tolu got a ticking off on ten minutes and George Savage was left in a heap on twelve. On fourteen minutes a long ball caught out the Glebe defence with Steve Smith running onto the ball and slotting it past Pat Ohman into the corner. It was a deserved equaliser.
Goal: Glebe 1 Rustics 1
The game continues end to end but more down the Bus Shelter End where Glebe were attacking. The Rustics did look dangerous on the break. On 24 minutes the Rusthall keeper again looked vulnerable and juggled a ball away for a corner. At the other end the diminutive Jordan James, possibly the smallest #9 the league - then again, he could be a six footer when measured against his team mates – burst through the heart of the Glebe defence and shot at goal. Pat spilled the ball straight to an onrushing Rustic who, faced with an empty net, blasted the ball onto the underside of the bar, only to see it bounce straight back into the arms of a grateful goalkeeper. It should have been two.
Brian Zepo was having a good game. Just beyond the half hour mark he jinked his way into a crowded box. The ref blew for an indirect free kick to Glebe. The defence blocked Laurent Hamici’s effort. As the game worked its way towards half time, the Glebe pressure built up. But they could not take advantage.
Half Time : Glebe 1Rustics 1
It was not long before the Rustics keeper was juggling the ball again. Again he conceded a corner. Sweeney stroked the ball into a crowded six yard box and in the ensuing commotion, Brian Zepo directed the ball into the net.
Goal: Glebe 2Rustics 1
Many teams would have dropped their heads conceding so soon after the half time team talk but not this Rusthall side. It was difficult to believe their lowly league position so spirited was their performance. Straight from the kick off they went on the attack. Glebe gave away a free kick and the shot was put into the side netting. Three minutes later a through ball beat the defence and with a one on one against Pat, the ball was slipped the wrong side of the post. Rusthall were looking more and more dangerous, and a Glebe defence that had looked so sound and assured at Lordswood were being tormented. It was just beyond the hour mark when Rustics got their second. Again, Jordan James went solo through the Glebe defence before putting in Steve Smith for his second of the night.
Goal: Glebe 2 Rustics 2
The Rusthall pressure continued and a looping header struck the post on 66 minutes. Glebe had a rare surge up the field with the keeper being tested only for him to save with his feet. Dan McCulloch had replaced Fred Obassa and the Glebe defence took to the time honoured tradition of clearing the ball into the top row of the stands – or in the case of Foxbury, the horse’s field, the woods, anywhere!
On 76 it seemed easier to score than miss but somehow Glebe survived another Rustics attack. On 82 they went close again with the defence scrambling the ball away. In between, a Sweeney free kick was sweetly struck but always started too wide. Seb S replaced Brian Zepo on 87.
Glebe nearly stole the victory with an attempted smash and grab in the last few minutes. A long clearance by ‘keeper Pat was met by the head of Hamici only to see it tipped around the post. In the first minute of additional, a long throw by Tolu caused chaos in the Rustics defence who headed off their own line when it looked a certain winner. And with what proved to be the last attack and absolute screamer was bound for the top corner only for the keeper to redeem himself with a fantastic save. It would have been harsh on Rustics. The word in the bar at ‘Tribute Time’ was Glebe had got away with that one.
Full Time: Glebe 2 Lordwood 2.
On Twitter:
Rocky: Really exciting 2-2 draw last night v @FcRusthall . Certainly they will feel they could have taken the points , yet 2 ‘worldies’ by their keeper and one ‘off the line ‘ all in a frantic last 2 minutes , meant a share of the points, was justice . Next up @OfficialCCFC_uk on Sat.
Anwar: Frustrated with tonight’s 2-2 draw in what was a below par @glebefootball performance, to pick up points when your nowhere near your best I guess is a positive & it was great to have had @OseiSankofa in the dug out with me tonight