FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round
Culverden Stadium, Tunbridge Wells
Admission: £7.00
Programme: £1.50
Attendance: 185
Match Rating: 3
As I will be unable to watch a game in the next round of the FA Cup, I decided to take in my second game of this round today, at a ground that I have visited many times since my schooldays, although unusually Tunbridge Wells would not be the home team.
Extensive pitch renovations at Rusthall's home ground, Jockey Farm, over the summer is resulting in the club playing all of their league fixtures away from home until September, and as they were drawn at home for this game, they had to seek an alternative venue, and came to agreement with Tunbridge Wells Football Club to host this game at Culverden Stadium, where they also played the Extra Preliminary Roung fixture last year against CB Hounslow. The Culverden Stadium remains an excellent facility to host Step 5 football, freshly decorated in club colours whilst retaining an attractive setting nestled amongst woodland and with a large uncovered terrace behind one goal and a stand stretching almost the entire length, containing some seating and some terrace steps to stand on, with the players entering the pitch between the two sections. The 24 page programme was printed in colour and had plenty of reading material and relevant statistics.
The home side would be favourites to progress today, although they had a tricky time in their first season at Step 5 level last season, finishing second bottom of the Southern Counties East League Premier Division, but avoided relegation. They have opened this season with a 2-5 defeat at Canterbury, but then beat Crowborough 1-3 in midweek. Wick play at Step 6, in Division One of the Southern Combination Football League, and after finishing in fifth place last season, and in their only game so far this season, they won 1-2 at Storrington.
On an overcast, slightly muggy afternoon with occasional light rain showers, this was quite a disappointing match, that never looked in doubt as Rusthall controlled proceedings pretty much from start to finish, as Wick looked rather lightweight outfit who put in a surprisingly flat and lacklustre performance. Rusthall opened the scoring on 14 minutes, Alex Carey playing a low ball forward for Tom Cameron to run onto, before driving low past the keeper. Rusthall came close to increasing their lead on several occasions before half time, but their shots went just high or wide of the goal, and in the final minute of the half, a first time shot by Cameron on the run from well outside the area hit the crossbar.
So, a narrow lead at the break, but the visitors would really have to up their game if they were to have a chance of staying in the competition. And they did have quite a good spell immediately after the break, but Rusthall scored their second on 50 minutes, when Carey fired across the keeper into the top far corner. That pretty much sealed the tie, as Rusthall dominated proceedings once more, coming close on countless occasions before they finally scored their third two minutes from time when a low ball across goal was tapped home by substitute Callum Strachan.
And so Rusthall claimed their first ever win in the FA Cup, and will face a daunting trip to Isthmian League South East Division outfit Cray Wanderers in the next round. It was as comfortable a result as could be, and Rusthall could easily have more than doubled their tally, and although it was always going to be a difficult task for Wick to get a positive result today, the manner of defeat would surely be really disappointing for them.
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