Anvils opened early with a Dan Sullivan cross being taken by keeper Steve Lawrence, followed by Kieran Greig heading just over, as the Anvils took up the early running, but although on top had nothing to show after the first 30 mins.

For Rusthall, mainly on the back foot, started to have the odd excursion up field with ex Burgess Hill striker Steve Harper causing Seb Bos slight discomfort with a fierce shot, followed by a Jacob Wright corner just being missed by fellow striker Dan Powell.

But generally it was the Anvils who looked to be the more likely to score first, as central midfield of Mike Spence and Michael Belli started to free up Nick Sullivan, but the striker was being tightly marked by sometimes 2 or 3 defenders, a free kick from half way by Sam Packham nearly caught out keeper Lawrence, more free kicks followed from Belli and Dan Sullivan but to no avail.

For all the Anvil pressure it was inevitable that the Rustics would cause an upset at the other end, which duly arrived after Harper had tested Bos, the same player came good on 45 when taking a cross in his stride he then fired home past the exposed Bos. HT 1-0 Rusthall.

For the second half it was the Rustics who started to come good, using the slope to their advantage with long balls that had the Anvil defence having to back pedal, come 55 and it was Harper again taking advantage of some lax marking to add to the Rustics scoreboard. 2-0 Rusthall.

Now it was the Anvils turn to raise their game, with Nick Sullivan cutting in from the left but wide of the target, come the hour and changes on the Anvil bench, with Festus Lori, Lee Thomas and Johan de Mayer added in a desperate chance to get back into the game, this added more pressure on to the Rustic defence, but it was not until the 80th min that the pressure finally told when Nick Sullivan finally, after all his graft, finally broke through to open the Anvil account, but for all the now added impetus and further chances coming their way the Anvils just could not find the goal which would have led to extra time and a replay. FT 2-1 Rusthall.

Team: Seb Bos, Josh Martin (Festus Lori), Sonny Barton, Williams Peauroux, Blair Cooney, Sam Packham, Dan Sullivan, Michael Belli (Johden de Mayer), Nick Sullivan, Mike Spence, Kieran Greig (Lee Thomas)

MOM: Sam Packham Attn: 114.

Author: Mike May