Rusthall Reserves - Match Reports 07/08
Rusthall Football Club
February Report Update 2008
With the Christmas period behind them it was important that the New Year brought some better performances and the points in order to put some pressure on runaway leaders Hawkenbury. After losing one game to the weather Rusthall Reserves had three games to play and it was vital that they came away with nine points and increased the goal difference, and that is exactly what happened. The first game was potentially a tricky one away to Edenbridge, who are the only team to beat Hawkenbury this season. At the start of the game manager Colin Smithers drilled into the selected side the importance of a fast start and not allowing the hosts to settle, and this is exactly what he got. Within 5 minutes of the start Ryan Sands took a long throw from the right hand side and launched it towards the middle of the six yard box, where Karl Mitchell flicked on for Andy Waterman to neatly finish for a perfect start for the Rustics. With Edenbridge rattled the pressure began to mount already and Rusthall looked like scoring with every attack, however it was the hosts that came the closest to the next goal when a shot across James Larkin hit the post and luckily came straight back to his hands. The Rustics saw this as a wake up call and cranked up the pressure and the next 15 minutes proved decisive in the game with two further goals going past the Edenbridge keeper. Stuart Gray broke fast down the right hand side after Sands had slipped him in and his shot was deflected past the keeper to 2-0. Once again it was another Sands long throw that caused the Edenbridge defence all sorts of problems and the centre back fired a bullet header past his own keeper for 3-0. The second half was much the same with plenty of chances being created and the Rusthall defence untroubled by the host’s forward line. Stuart Gray scored his second and the best goal of the game ad he once again broke from right back and fired a shot across the keeper an into the far corner, it finished 4-0 and Rusthall looked impressive.
The next game for The Rustics was the return leg of the previous fixture against Edenbridge, this time played in good conditions at Jockey Farm on a weekend that many games were called off due to bad weather conditions. Smithers was able to name a team similar to that of last week and again it was a straight forward performance and the result followed. Jason Pring was on the bench and was playing his last game for The Rustics due to a big money move to a team in Crowborough somewhere. The game did not start as well as the previous tie but never the less Rusthall were comfortable at the back and reduced the visitors to long shots which very rarely hit the target. The opening goal of the game came in the shape of Richard Barden’s first for the team after a corner was driven in from Waterman and Barden bundled over the line from close range. In the second half coming down the hill Edenbridge were better but only managed one shot on goal which dribbled back to Larkin t pick up. The game was sealed late in the second half after Waterman was climbed on from a corner which was slotted away by Mark Lester. The game finished 2-0 and another clean sheet for The Rustics.
The next game was at home to High Brooms Casuals, the team that had already knocked Rusthall out of the Presidents Cup early on in the season. With Stuart Gray continuing in the first team and Jason Pring having now left the club, Smithers had to call on the services of Anis Yahouhiou from the third team to fill the void. Kicking down the hill at Southwood Road, Rusthall started very well and were 1-0 up in a short amount of time in the shape of Ryan Sands from close range. With Mitchell and Waterman working well down both flanks the service into the box was good and the shaky Casuals keeper was looking very nervous. The visitors still had something about them and managed to create a good chance that was well saved by Larkin in the Rusthall goal. It was not long and Sands had got his second of the game and Rusthall were cruising. What was to follow was a comical goal steered into the net from Karl Mitchell from close to the halfway line, a long cross from Mitchell was misjudged by the Casuals nervous keeper and ended up bouncing into the empty net for 3-0. The visitors did get one back shortly after from a corner which was volleyed in to the back of the net for 3-1 after some terrible marking in the box. By this point in the game Lester had had a few long shots that narrowly missed and Waterman had blazed over when it seemed harder to miss, but top scorer Bull did get on the score sheet after coolly slotting past the keeper and into the bottom corner. Sands was guilty of missing the best chance of the game after Mitchell beat one man and chipped to the back post, but sands stretched and headed past the far post with just the net to hit. The second half was mainly dominated by a few long shots with again Waterman guilty of narrowly missing. Casuals had one further opportunity to get another but the striker was well foiled by Larkin. The game finished 4-1 and another 3 points for Rusthall. With 2 games to –play against Hawkenbury it is important that The Rustics keep winning to put the pressure on the league leaders and hope for them to make a mistake.
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Rusthall Reserves 7 – 2 Brenchley
With last weeks game against Tunbridge Wells Utd cancelled due to a waterlogged pitch; it was important The Rustics got back to winning ways in order to put pressure on the league leaders Hawkenbury. This week the visitors to Southwood Road were Brenchley, looking to put a string of results together in order to get themselves out of the relegation zone. Smithers switched things round a bit and played alongside Whitaker in the middle allowing Waterman to be used as a left back and Gray occupied the right side. Histed partnered the returning Lester in the centre of midfield with Pring on the left and Mitchell pushing into right midfield, Sands partnered top scorer Bull in attack.
Captain Larkin won the toss and elected to kick up the slope in the first half in order to get the tough job done in the opening 45 minutes. With that in mind it was important Rusthall started well, but this was not the case, with Adams arriving late and therefore missing the first ten minutes of running the line, Brenchley capitalised. The ball was slipped through from the visitors right and the striker was in on goal and finished neatly, however Gray was adamant this was offside but as there was no linesman the goal was given, 1-0. The hosts sprung into life and before long were back on level terms thanks to a well taken penalty from Mitchell after the ball had struck a Brenchley hand. More chances came but the Rusthalll strikers found the Brenchley keeper in fine form, his most notable save was from a Mitchell thunderbolt that he somehow managed to tip onto the post. With Brenchley still threatening from wide areas, the combination of Smithers and Whitaker needed to be on their toes, and they were, dealing comfortably with everything that was thrown at them. The Rustics second goal came from a rare source in the shape of a Histed pile driver from outside the box which nestled nicely into the top corner of the net for his first (and probably last) of the season. Waterman was working well down the left with Pring and with Mitchell’s twinkle toes on the right chances were coming thick and fast, Mitchell could have had his second of the game as his cut in on his left foot before the ball was cleared onto a Brenchley defender and past the keeper for 3-1 at half time.
The second half was much the same and once again chances came thick and past, but once again the keeper made some good saves. At times the game was being run my Lester in the middle of midfield who made moving the ball around look easy and with Histed being the more defensive it allowed him to have almost a free role. Waterman was having a good game on the left and found some joy running down the hill on the left and on a number of occasions found Mitchell with a cross field ball in acres of space on the right. With ten minutes gone in the second half Rusthall earned themselves a free kick on the edge of the box to which Mitchell stepped up to take and swung the ball with perfect accuracy into the top left hand corner for his second of the game. By this time it was 4-1 and Brenchleys heads had gone down and the flood gates opened. Further goals were added by strikers Bull and Pring, but the best team goal of the game came was scored after Lester had picked the ball up on the left side, skipped inside one player and switched the ball the width of the pitch to Mitchell who laid back first time with a cushioned side foot volley into the path of Pring who fired home from close range. Brenchley did get another goal after Whitaker stepped up for offside that was not given and the striker rounded Larkin and fired in to make the final score, 7-2.
Team: Larkin, Smithers, Whitaker, Gray, Waterman, Mitchell, Lester, Pring, Histed, Bull, Sands
Subs: Adams
Rusthall Reserves 4 – 0 Langton
After the disappointments of the previous two results against Hadlow and particularly the manner of the default last week in the 6-2 loss, it was extremely important that The Rustics got back to winning ways against this weeks visitors Langton. Playing at Southwood Road manager Colin Smithers decided to play on the bigger top pitch as he believed that the larger area would suit his team’s game better. He shuffled his pack again and started with Wallis at right back, Waterman at left back and Karl Mitchell returning to the starting eleven to play sweeper alongside Smithers himself. Pring, Smith, Histed and Sands made up the midfield with Bull partnered this week by Dave Burren who was rested from first team duty.
Rusthall, kicking down the hill in the first half after Smith lost the toss, started brightly but were matched by the energetic Langton players who came into this local derby pumped up for action. The right winger got the better of Waterman in the early exchanges but the crosses he supplied were well dealt with by Smithers and co. With Mitchell talking well across the back and organising Rusthall seemed to be dealing well with the constant pressure from the visitors, however as good as they were coming forward they were equally as poor at the back and it was not long before The Rustics took the lead. From a throw in, the ball was launched into the box and Nick ‘Big Cat’ Smith met well with a powerful header to beat the diving keeper, 1-0. Langton reacted well and created a couple of openings themselves, one of which was superbly blocked by Smithers when it seemed all was lost. Rusthall did however make it 2-0 shortly after and it was Burren who got it after a hopeful long punt over his own head by Bull, which was met by the shouts of “What kind of ball was that”, by Smithers, before Burren latched onto it after one bounce and headed over the advancing keeper, leaving Smithers eating his words. Burren got his second and Rusthall’s third not long before half time with a well driven left foot shot which left the Langton keeper no chance. Langton had a good spell of possession before the half time whistle and earned a number of corners. The first delivery into the box was well dealt with by the hosts but on a number of occasions Langton won the second ball and it was on one of these occasions that they managed a well driven low shot into the corner which was tipped round the post well by Larkin.
In the second half Rusthall began to dominate the play and created a whole host of chances but kept firing at the Langton keeper who dealt with well to keep their hopes alive. The defence was solid and the experiment of Mitchell at sweeper seemed to be paying dividends as the whole back four looked comfortable. Notable chances in the second half came from initially Waterman who did well to get one on one with the keeper but failed to square to the unmarked Burren and the chance was gone. Rusthall managed to get their fourth mid way through the half after Bull pounced well to smash home from close range to make him top scorer for the season with five goals. Brazil came on to replace Histed and managed to calve himself out two glorious opportunities, one which was saved by the keeper and the other which cannoned off the bar before Wallis found himself in front of goal and fired over the goal and onto the changing room roof. A good comfortable performance and a well deserved win.
Team: Larkin, Waterman, Smithers,
Mitchell, Wallis, Smith, Histed, Pring, Sands, Burren, Bull
Subs: Brazil, Whitaker
Rusthall Reserves 1 – 2 Hadlow - 20th October 2007
Rusthall Reserves entertained Hadlow at the weekend in a Tonbridge Premier clash at Southwood Road. Smithers once again had to make vast changes as former reserve team players of McKenna, Waterman, Smith and Pring were joined this week in the first team squad by Lester. Mitchell, Stevens and Brazil remained injured and striking pair of Bull and Elliott were unavailable, this left Smithers with a numbers headache. He called upon club veteran Robbie Forbes to fill in at left back joining Gray, Smithers and Wallis to make up the back four in front of Larkin in goal. The midfield was almost totally different to last week, Whitaker was pushed up from left back and Sands switched to the right, Histed played in the centre alongside Ben Carter who was promoted from the third team, Banfield and Lodiero played in attack.
The game started off poorly for Rusthall as a long ball from the Hadlow centre evaded Forbes and the right winger was in on goal, only to slash wide from 12 yards. Larkin was called into early action and parried away from a well driven shot, but the supporting striker poked the rebound wide under claims of a penalty that were dismissed by the referee. The Rustics defence was not communicating well and the impressive Hadlow striker was in on goal again but he too fired wide from close range. Rusthall did manage to get the ball down and play some football as the half went on but the end product was poor and the Hadlow keeper was not tested. The visitors got in on goal a further two times in the half but found Larkin in excellent form, making two further stops, one of them from point blank range and the score remained 0-0 at half time.
The second half started and Hadlow looked for the long ball over the top of Forbes’s head but this time the left back was well positioned and cleared up with comfort. The game started to get scrappy and some tired challenges went in leaving the Hadlow midfield frustrated, but they soon regained their composure and the opening goal of the game came on 55 minutes. A quick throw in on the right was not dealt with by the sleeping Rustics and the Hadlow striker walked in from the touchline and toe poked through Larkin’s legs from close range. 1-0. Rusthall were rattled and 5 minutes later a rash challenge from Gray on the right gave Hadlow a chance to double their lead from the penalty spot, which they did with an impressive spot kick, 2-0. The reserves battled hard and created a couple of chances themselves notably for Banfield who fired high over the bar from 6 yards. They did however get one back on 70 minutes after a corner was bundled in from Whitaker who came in from the left. With time running out Forbes pushed into attack and was joined by Nagel from the bench and Hunter made his return from injury to occupy the left wing. Forbes slotted a ball through the visitors defence and Lodiero was in on goal with just the keeper to beat, but the ball would not sit down for him and he ended up firing at the Hadlow keeper. With minutes on the clock Rusthall had a corner which was met well by Wallis with his head but could not beat the keeper who stretched out his left arm to save. With a game next week away to the same opponents things must improve to avoid a repeat result on their turf.
Team: Larkin, Smithers, Wallis, Forbes, Gray, Histed, Carter, Sands, Whitaker, Lodiero, Banfield
Subs: Nagel, Hunter
TUNBRIDGE WELLS CUP
RUSTHALL RESERVES VS WOODLANDS
The last of three successive cup games for the Reserves were played on Saturday at Jockey Farm, their opponents Woodlands are well known to Rusthall as they beat them to the league title last year and ran out 1-0 winners in the Presidents Cup Final aswell as beating them 4-0 at the start of this season. With continuing injuries and players representing the first team again this week, manager Smithers had to juggle his pack once more and employed a different formation in order to combat the Woodlands holding midfielder. Brazil was injured so Smithers came in to partner Wallis in the back four with Gray and Whitaker in the wide positions. Smithers opted to play five in midfield with Bull and Sands as they wide men, Histed, Banfield and Lester occupied the centre with Histed holding and Banfield attacking to support the lone striker of Elliott, Lodiero and Forbes made up the bench.
As it has in previous weeks, the game started slowly for The Rustics and the first chance of the game fell to the nippy Woodlands striker but Larkin was quick off his line to save well. The pressure began to mount against the hosts and once again a long ball was met by the same striker but the outcome was the same and Larkin held well down to his left Kicking down the hill in the first half, Woodlands knew they needed to score a goal before the break and pushed hard to do so. A number of successive corners were dealt with well by the Rusthall defence but the visitors were getting closer and it was on 35 minutes that a corner was met 8 yards out by a towering Woodlands midfielder who rattled the bar before Wallis cleared up well and the danger was gone,. The only notable effort from Rusthall in the first half was a long shot from Histed which was bread and butter for the keeper who caught comfortably above his head, 0-0 at half time.
They say ‘it is a game of two halves’ and nothing would be more evident than this match, after nearly coming in at the break 3-0 down The Rustics could have run out 8-0 winners in the second half. With Wallis and Smithers communicating well together at the back and Whitaker and Gray covering round well when needed, it did not look like Rusthall were going to concede in the second half .The game began to get camped in the Woodlands half and they had the tough job of defending against the slope with Rusthall on the prowl for goals. The first chance came to Elliott who was put one on one with the keeper but seemed to get the ball stuck under his feet before poking his shot past the keeper but onto the post and wide. The pressure mounted on the Woodlands goal and a shot from the edge of the box beat the keeper but was punched away on the line by the visitor’s midfielder and the penalty was given. Bull wanted to claim the penalty and strolled up confidently only to fire straight at the keeper who saved and managed to get up and save the rebound from Elliott. Bull did get his just rewards though and it was from a Sands corner that was flicked on at the front post before Bull stole in front of his man and headed home from close range. All the time it was only 1-0, Woodlands had the chance of nicking something and they had a good chance on the break but Smithers made an excellent last ditch tackle to deny the striker. Further chances came and went for The Rustics, notably for Banfield who blazed high over the protective netting behind the goal and on another occasion fired straight at the keeper from 6 yards. Elliott went off after working tirelessly in attack on his own and was replaced with Lodiero who made an instant impact going on a mazy run before having his shot well saved by the impressive Woodlands keeper. Lodiero did manage to get a goal from the penalty spot which the keeper almost saved again but the power was too much for him. Even right to the end of the game Rusthall could have had another four goals, Gray headed over from 3 yards after a perfect Sands cross and Smithers did likewise when it seemed harder to miss, and on another occasion Banfield could not stretch enough to have a tap in at the far post. Arguably the best chance of the game fell to Sands who had a tap in at the back post after, man of the match, Lester had dummied in the area to sell the last defender, but Sands choked and allowed the keeper to get back and block, the game finished 2-0.
Team: Larkin, Smithers, Wallis, Whitaker,
Gray, Lester, Sands, Banfield, Bull, Histed, Elliott
Subs: Forbes, Lodiero
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Presidents Cup Round1 - 6th October 2007
Rusthall Reserves 2 – 1 Roselands
Yet another cup game the Reserves this week, this time in the Presidents Cup against Roselands. This was a repeat of the league fixture a fortnight ago in which The Rustics ran out 8-0 winners, this time it would be a different game entirely. Smithers had yet again a depleted side with Mitchell and Stevens nursing long term injuries along with Hunter whilst Millins and McKenna were with the first team again, Banfield was recalled and started in attack alongside Bull. Whitaker made a return after missing last week and came straight in at left back leaving Smithers to drop himself to the bench. Sands returned from suspension to make up the midfield with Smith, Lester and Pring, John Elliott returned to the club to take up a place on the bench.
Playing on a perfect pitch at Southwood Road and kicking down the hill it was important that Rusthall did not think this was going to be a walkover and steamroll Roselands, otherwise they could be in for a rude awakening. The visitors started off much the better of the two sides and within 5 minutes they had an effort on goal beaten away by Larkin. They did however take the lead on 10 minutes after a perfectly waited through ball beat Wallis before the striker coolly slotted past the advancing Larkin. From kick off Roselands won the ball back and again one ball dissected The Rustics defence but the effort was cleared off the line by the covering Gray. Rusthall found it hard to keep the ball and started arguing between themselves. Roselands hit the bar before Rusthall managed to get themselves back in the game after Pring fired to the keepers near post which managed to squeeze under his body. After this the pressure mounted but Rusthall found the Roselands keeper in fine form, saving everything that was thrown at him. Roselands did manage one more effort from range before that half time whistle, but Larkin saved well to his right. Rusthall took the lead just before the half after Pring broke through again and fired across the impressive keeper. Gray hit the bar with a cracking drive from the right but at half time it was 2-1.
Brazil came off at half time as he was struggling with illness and was replaced at the heart of the defence by Smithers. The half started well for the hosts and once again a number of shots were saved by the Roselands keeper notably by Smith who was destined not to score in this game. With Banfield impressing in attack and Lester and Smith linking up well it seemed only a matter of time before the floodgates opened, but it was not to be. Elliott had come of the bench and had a good chance at the end to open his account but again found the keeper in fine form, the game finished 2-1 and Rusthall were less then impressive, things must improve next week as they play Woodlands in the Tunbridge Wells Cup.
Team: Larkin, Gray, Wallis, Brazil, Whitaker, Sands, Lester, Smith, Pring, Bull, Banfield
Subs: Elliott, Smithers
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Rusthall Reserves 3 – 4 Chipstead, 29th September 07
With three win out of three behind them in the league it was the first of three cup games in a row for Rusthall Reserves this week and Kent County League side Chipstead were the visitors on a perfect day for football. With McKenna called up to the first team along with Milllins, Smithers had to pick the side alone and was faced with some real dilemmas. Whitaker was not available and Hunter had chipped his collar bone in a Sunday game, but Wallis was available again after not playing since the start of the season and it was a welcomed return for last years seasoned campaigner Nagel to take his place on the bench. Smithers made the decision to play himself at left back with Wallis coming in along side Brazil in the centre of defence and Nick Smith came in to replace McKenna alongside Lester. The new partnerships were slow to get going and within 5 minutes The Rustics were one down after Smithers was done for pace by the right winger before he fired the ball across Larkin and into the back of the net. Two minutes later it was 2-0 and after Larkin had made a save the Rusthall defence watched as the striker poked into the empty net. Two more minutes had passed before the same thing happened again, the striker through in on Larkin, who saved the first shot but was unable to get up to save the rebound, Rusthall were 3-0 inside 8 minutes. Rusthall rallied and managed to gather some shape back for the rest of the half and started to play a bit of football. Stevens had a good opportunity at the far post but could not capitalise and ended up pulling a groin, Michael Banfield came on to fill the void. Towards the end of the first half Smith picked up the ball on the left wing and fired an inch perfect ball to Lester who had made a bursting run in on the keeper before firing a well placed shot across him and into the far corner, 3-1 It became a bit of a stalemate for the rest of the half which ended with Brazil having his head bandaged up after Larkin had punched a ball clear but managed to catch him at the same time.
The second half started brighter for The Rustics and kicking down the hill made good use of the slope. Banfield was having a good game after coming on early in the first half and was proving valuable in holding the ball up for others to join in. It was Chipstead who struck first though with another one on one, the ball was threaded to the striker and Wallis was unable to get back allowing the ball to be lifted over the advancing Larkin and into the back of the net for 4-1. The game restarted and Mitchell was involved in a challenge that left him feeling his troubled groin again, so he was replaced with the returning Nagel who slipped in to sweeper leaving Brazil to take up the right midfield role. Rusthall created some chances in the second half and were rewarded after a fine strike from substitute Banfield on his left foot, 4-2. Rusthall had a glimmer of hope and continued to put pressure on the visitors back four and had a couple of penalty claims turned down. The Rustics earned themselves a corner to which Brazil crossed to the back post, Smith met it with a powerful header which was blocked on the line, before man of the match Bull smashed home from close range for 4-3. Despite their best efforts in the second half the damage was already done in the first 8 minutes and it proved too much of an up hill battle to come back from 3-0 down.
Team: Larkin, Smithers, Brazil, Wallis,
Gray, Mitchell, Smith, Lester, Pring, Stevens, Bull
Subs: Banfield, Nagel
