Rusthall continued their fine form with a good away victory against a poor Bearsted side who plummeted into the relegation spots and had a player sent off.

The game started with Rusthall in charge & showing what confidence does for you when in the 5th minute a corner to the near post saw Yassin Fares saw his header go wide but in the next minute Tommy Taylor’s long clearance saw Louie Clarke latched onto it & go into the area & went round Tom Benham & shot into the empty net.

A minute later Bearsted nearly equalised when Jordan Ababio running forward beat one defender & from 15 yards saw his shot saved by Taylor’s leg for a corner.

Rusthall were now dominating play without causing any problems while Bearsted relied on scraps & in the 26th minute Colby Wait saw his header from a corner go wide of the post.

Half time was nearly up & Bearsted would be pleased that it was only one goal but in the 45th minute Wait fouled Fares in the area & a penalty was given, up stepped Clarke & his penalty to the left was saved but came back to him & he stroked the ball home.

How cruel for Bearsted but reward for Rusthall’s play.

The second half was only 4 minutes old when Rusthall increased their lead when Clarke’s shot from outside the area was blocked by Dan Melvin but the referee pointed to the spot saying he handled it & another penalty given, up stepped Clarke & this time made no mistake as he hit it straight down the middle to complete his hat trick.

In the 56th minute it became four when Dan Blunn who had only been on for two minutes latched onto a long ball & chipped the advancing Benham.

Bearsted were being routed & were down to 10 men when Adam Turton was sent off for foul & abusive language at the referee but in the 60th minute they got a goal back when a ball into the area saw Andy Irvine head downwards for Dan Melvin who from 4 yards stabbed home.

Alas the comeback was not on as in the 76th minute another penalty decision when Dwain Archer running onto a through ball was fouled by Benham just inside the area, up stepped Ravel Powell-Down & he shot home.

A minute later & Bearsted got another goal when Irvine received the ball just outside the area & beat a couple of defenders & from an acute angle shot in.

Time was not in Bearsted’s favour as they continued to try & get another, then in the 2nd minute of added on time they got another goal back when a corner to the near post was flicked in by Melvin, unfortunately they could not get any more & when the final whistle went it was relief for Rusthall’s players.

BEARSTED: 1. T.BENHAM 2. J.DAWSON 3. C.McCARTHY 4. P.HEADLY 5. C.WAIT (56) 6. D.MELVIN 7. O.AKANNI 8. J.WAKEFIELD (56) 9. J.ABABIO 10. J.TURTON 11. J.TINGLEY

SUBS USED: 15. A.IRVINE (56) 16. A.SAUNDERS (56)

SUBS NOT USED: 12. S.ECHEMA 14. F. DAVID-KING 17. J.SAVAGE

BOOKINGS: 5. C.WAIT (45) 1. T.BENHAM (77) 15.A.IRVINE (86)

SENT OFF: 10 A.TURTON (54)

RUSTHALL: 1. T.TAYLOR 2. L.ANDERSON 3. A.ITHALI 4. C.SHORT 5. J.WHITE 6. J.NJUGUNA 7. R.POWELL-DOWNE (81) 8. J.SMITH 9. L.CKLARKE (54) 10. T.IBRAHIM (51) 11. Y.FARES (75)

SUBS USED: 14. D.ARCHER (51) 15. D.BLUNN (54) 12. L.MILLER (75) 17. G.PORTER (81)

SUBS NOT USED: 16. A.MANKWAY

BOOKINGS: 11. Y.FARES (24) 8. J.SMITH (34) 6. J.NJUGUNA (90+6)

REFEREE: Mr B.MARSHALL

ASSISTANTS: Mr M.DONNELLY & Mr B.DAVIS

ATTENDANCE: 118

Picture supplied by Rusthall Football Club.