Rusthall continued their excellent run of form with a dominant second half display against ten man Holmesdale at Oakley Road on Saturday, the home side having had Anthony Musoke harshly red carded just before half time.

The Dalers started the game looking positive, coming close when  Oghosa Williams fired over from a tight angle.

Rusthall came into things as the half went on, the lively Yassin Fares firing wide after a good run, but it was the home side who did take the lead on 18 minutes when a corner came out to Musoke and he sent in a great cross for Louise Clarke to head home from six yards out.

After a midfield battle for a spell, the game turned on one incident on 39 minutes when Fares got in front of Musoke and went down on the edge of the area.

The Referee awarded The Rustics a penalty, although many though the contact was outside, and then compounded the situation for Dale by sending off Musoke.

Fares picked himself up and confidently put his Panenka style penalty away to equalise and the complexion of the game was changed. Fares then went close soon after and Kalani Barton hit the side netting as the visitors pressed, but Holmesdale weathered the storm and the teams went in to the break all square. 

The second half saw Rusthall press their man advantage from the off and they took the lead on 50 minutes when Charlie Clover converted from the edge of the area with a cool finish low into the corner off the net.

With the visitors now in front, they looked to extend their lead, Clover fired over, Thomspon Adeyemi had a shot deflected wide and Fares went close twice more, before they eventually made it 3-1 on 67 minutes.

Fares crossed from the left and Clover headed towards goal, Dale keeper Tommy Taylor clawing the ball away, but the Linesman flagged that the ball had just crossed the line.

Barton and Clover combined again as The Rustics pressed for more, before Holmesdale battled back for a spell, but they struggled to create real chances. Late on Rusthall pressed again and they made it 4-1 in injury time when Adeyemi swept the ball home from close range.

The final chance did fall to Dale, but Clarke put his chance over the bar to end a difficult afternoon for the home side. 

Rusthall maintained their fifth place with this win, with games in hand on the teams around them, while Dale remain eleventh.                                           

Holmesdale – Taylor, Lugboso (D Williams 64), Musoke, Valler, C Taylor, Clark (Boateng 70), Murray (Avery 70), Bayford (Hernandez 64), Clarke, Odedoyin (Heywood 60), O Williams.

Rusthall – Sanneh, Anderson (Khalil 86), Blunn, Lawrence (Njunga 74), Lyons (Hayford 86), Clover, Barton, Kirby (Hashemi 93), Griffin, Adeyemi, Fares. Subs Not Used: Blendell. 

Goals – HFC: Clarke 18mins  – RFC – Fares 40pen, Clover 50 & 67, Adeyemi 91mins  
HT 1-1 FT 1-4 
Att: 91