Visitors Keep Up Title Pressure - Rusthall vs. Lydd Town

Rusthall attack towards their clubhouse.

After weeks of having my match choices limited by the weather it was now the turn of railway engineering works to restrict my choices. My first choice was Risborough but there were works on the Wycombe line. There were a couple of interesting games in The Eastern Counties League but there is a seemingly lengthy programme of works on the London to Norwich line. My attention then turned to The Kent Invicita League but even this wasn't straight forward. I had been meaning to visit Hollands and Blair for a little while but unsurprisingly there were no trains running to Gillingham. I finally settled on Rusthall and it turned out that all those engineering works were a good thing. The visitors to Jockey Farm were second placed Lydd Town. Lydd were six points behind leaders Hollands and Blair and they had played a game more and so desperately needed a win to keep up the pressure. The hosts also needed the three points to pull themselves away from the foot of the table. The reverse fixture in November resulted in a narrow two one win for Lydd. 

Lydd prepare to kick up the slope in the first half.

There are chances in the game for both sides early on. Firstly a Rusthall shot from outside of the area is well blocked and then Lydd manage to get in behind the defence but the weak shot is easily dealt with. The hosts take a shock early lead when a corner kick isn't dealt with by the Lydd defence and the ball is forced in from close range. Lydd immediately go looking for the equaliser and a good chance is wasted when the forward perhaps shoots a little too early. They don't have to wait too much longer for the equaliser to come. In similar circumstances to the Rusthall goal, a set piece in to the area isn't cleared and the ball is headed home from close range. Lydd now have their tails up as the Rusthall keeper is forced in to a great save following a good break. Another Lydd attack sees the Rusthall defender make a fantastic last ditch tackle to prevent a shot on goal. Lydd have one final chance in the first half but the forward puts his shot well wide after finding himself in a good position.

Lydd make it one one

Lydd start the second half in the same vein as the first and a good break ends with the poor shot being aimed straight at the keeper. Lydd take the lead when a through ball on the half way line puts the forward through on goal and he makes no mistake to put his team two one up. This sparks Rusthall in to life and they win a couple of free kicks in decent positions. The closest they come with these set pieces is when a free kick finds the man at the back post but his header goes just wide. Something then provokes the Lydd manager and he is sent from the dugouts. His mood is helped as his side add a third goal. Yet another set piece isn't dealt with and again the ball is put in to the net from close range. They add a fourth as they again break quickly and after the first effort hits the post, the ball is slotted home. In the closing stages, Lydd add a fifth to keep alive their title hopes.

Looking towards the clubhouse

Rusthall is a village and so has no train station. The nearest train station is Tunbridge Wells and you can catch a train here from either Cannon Street or Charing Cross with the journey taking just under an hour. From just across the road from the station you can catch the 281 bus to Rusthall. There are up to five buses an hour and the journey takes ten minutes. The main thing to see in the village is The Sitting Toad which is a sandstone outcrop and there are several others on the common. Right next to the common is The Toad Rock Retreat which had a couple of ales on and looked to do decent food. further in to the village is The Red Lion which also had some ales on a looked like a very good pub. Jockey Farm is a five minute walk from the high street. The clubhouse is very cosy and had the usual drinks. As the name suggests, Jockey Farm has a very rural feel (see picture below) and is actually next to a farm. The village, the ground and the welcome made Rusthall one of my favourite visits of the season.      

The Invicita has a fantastic standard of programmes

Lydd attack the farm end