Finally the rain held off just long enough for non league football fixtures to be able to go ahead and I headed out to Rusthall FC, on the very edge of Royal Tunbridge Wells, to watch the Southern Counties East Football League (SCEFL) Premier Division fixture between Rusthall and Snodland Town.

The Jockey Farm Stadium is a long established and characterful ground. The club has a grass pitch, of a high quality, with a covered grandstand and more covered standing available. It boasts a decent clubhouse and refreshment stand. The League attendance this season at the Jockey Farm Stadium has ranged from 100 to the huge 1100 who attended the Tunbridge Wells derby fixture back on the 30th December 2023.

Rusthall FC came into today’s game in twentieth and last but one place in the league, after winning just four of their 31 games this season. Manager Jimmy Anderson would have been looking to top scorers, Jack Kirby (5 goals) and Steadman Callender (3 goals) to fire up today, as his side looked to build their survival chances with an unlikely victory against the strength of a resurgent Snodland Town and having come into this fixture on the back of a run that has seen them secure only one point in their last five league matches. On previous visits to Jockey Farm however, I have witnessed the resilience of the Rusthall squad and was sure that Snodland Town would have to fight hard for any points on offer today.

Snodland Town, who last season were promoted from the Southern Counties East Football League Division One, have had a positive season, winning over half of their matches and sitting just outside the play off positions in seventh place. They came into today’s fixture requiring a win, to lift them back into promotion playoff contention, after being held to a goalless draw in their previous games against high flying Corinthian FC. Manager Luke Wallond was looking to top scorers, Francis Babalola (8 goals),Rob Bissett (7 goals) and Tahlor Fisher (7 goals), alongside recent import Tarik Ibrahim, to ensure his side capitalised against one of the league’s bottom sides.

The opening 25 minutes saw a disallowed Snodland Town goal and three clear cut Rusthall chances in the opposition area, all squandered, when it looked easier to score.

On the stroke of the half hour, Snodland Town made Rusthall pay for their missed opportunities, when Jack Nelson finished from close range, after a fine run and shot by Tarik Ibrahim, was initially saved by Sanneh in the Rusthall goal.

On 41 minutes a well placed ball through found Francis Babolola, who finished neatly over the keeper to make it 0-2 to the away team. At the half time break it was Snodland Town who left the pitch with the two goal advantage.

The second half saw Snodland Town put more and more pressure on the home defence but Rusthall showed the fight and resilience I had expected from them and held firm.

As the half progressed Rusthall created chances of their own. Snodland Town switched their focus to ensuring the game was closed out. Luke Wallond’s introduction of Nathaniel Olawole late in the game injected some pace and ensured Snodland finished the game positively. At full time it was Snodland who left the Jockey Farm ground with three points, leaving Rusthall deep in a relegation battle as the season moved into the final quarter.