Rusthall 2-2 Snodland

The Rustics completed their home campaign on Saturday with a disappointing result against relegation threatened Snodland in front of their biggest crowd of the season of 103, writes Richard Smith.

On a very hot day and on a pitch that was dry and bumpy Rusthall tried a new formation of 3-5-2 and this worked from the outset as they took the game to their visitors with the wing backs of Martin Millins and Steve Ashmore getting forward at every opportunity.

With normal striker Rob Perkins dropping back into midfield and fit again Alan Chapman running things from the middle of midfield Rusthall dominated the early exchanges with the speed of young striker John Penny and his partner Dave Burren.

Snodland were defending very deep and at times frantically. Rusthall's early dominance was, however, rewarded in the 22nd minute, following a superb build up the ball was played into the feet of Penny with his back to goal and the young striker turned and struck a superb shot low into the left hand corner giving the visiting keeper no chance.

The Rustics continued to dominate the game but as with many games this season they were not able to turn their possession into further goals and went in at half time still only leading 1-0 leaving the large number of Snodland supporters full of hope that they could get back into the game.

Rusthall continued to take the game to Snodland in the second half and doubled their lead on 57 minutes, a neat passing move down the left set Penny through and he calmly lifted the ball over the advancing keeper and at this point there only looked to be one winner.

But to their credit Snodland raised their game and started to enjoy more possession.

Snodland employed the long ball game and Rusthall were struggling to cope with Snodland's big centre forward Christian Matthews who was holding the ball up well and feeding his team mates.

It was Matthews who created the opening in the 74th minute that lead to Snodland pulling a goal back from this point Snodland looked anything but a side trying to avoid relegation as they went all out for a share of the points and they managed an equaliser on 81 minutes with Matthews again at the heart of things.

By now Rusthall were looking a tired side but they still nearly managed to grab a winner, on 87 minutes Alan Chapman curled a superb left foot effort which beat the keeper only to come back off of the post.

The Rustics now have to wait for their remaining two away games to be scheduled against Bearsted and Holmesdale both sides that are still in with a chance of catching leaders Bromley Green.