An entertaining action packed Southern Counties East Football League Challenge Cup match between Sporting Club Thamesmead and Rusthall ended with the visitors progressing.
At half time it appeared that a shock result could be on the cards but the Rustics held their nerve and will take their place in the third round.
Jack Low shot over for Rusthall before his trickery created a half chance for Louie Clarke that was poked wide. Low had another effort deflected over then Ryan Solan had Thamesmead’s first goal attempt with a drive that flashed across the face of goal with nobody able to turn it home.
Low fired a free kick into the defensive wall, however, it was the Acre who went ahead in the thirteenth minute. Brandon Hatega sent in a low cross, Daniel Moronfolu got down but couldn’t hold it, and Adbulai Turay kept his composure to fire home.
Jack Kirby was off target from twenty yards for the visitors, Clarke snatched an effort wide after a good move involving Kareem Rahman and James Miles, and another twenty-yarder from Kirby flew straight into the midriff of Oliver Hearn.
Moronfolu fielded a Hatega low drive before Rusthall again put together a good move to create another opportunity that Kirby, leaning back, skied over.
Once more, Kirby failed to hit the target from the edge of the area before he became creator when crossing for Clarke who headed over.
Two minutes before half time, the Acre doubled their lead when Solan played a long pass forward and Wade Odedoyin held his man off easily before going round Moronfolu and slotting home.
Turay shot wide from distance before an eventful first half drew to a close.
Early in the second period, Clarke’s free kick came back out off the far post before Yassin Fares crossed to Low and his header was saved superbly by Hearn,
Ten minutes into the half, Rusthall pulled one back when Kirby delivered a deep free kick and Thompson Adeyemi rose to guide his header back into the back of the net.
Now, with the wind in their favour, the premier division team looked to press home their advantage and came close to levelling when Daniel Blunn’s effort was cleared off the line brilliantly by Daniel Palfrey.
Frankie Griffin hit a long range drive that Hearn couldn’t hold but Fares’ first touch let him down and the Acre’s goalkeeper was able to get up and make a good save at the cost of a corner. Their let off was short lived, though, as Adeyemi met Louis Anderson’s delivery and headed home from close range.
Jaevon Dyer thrashed over for the Rustics and Fares cut in and hit a shot that was saved easily. However, it wasn’t all one way and Odedoyin’s long range shot was held by Moronfolu at the second attempt.
Just as it started looking like it might need a penalty shoot-out to settle the tie, Rusthall went ahead. Dyer’s shot was pushed out by Hearn and Clarke was on hand to finish.
Five minutes later, and with just five minutes left on the clock, they added a fourth when Dyer was again the creator, and Clarke again the finisher.
As the clock ran down, the frustration became too much for one of the Thamesmead coaching staff and a comment made to the referee resulted in him being shown a red card.
Hearn saved from Low in stoppage time before Thamesmead claimed a consolation goal when Odedoyin swept Turay’s diagonal pass home.
SC Thamesmead: Hearn; Solan (Cann 62), Hooper, Palfrey, Mochine-Wood (Roberts 83); O’Keefe (Lambert 58); Hatega, Phillips, Mohamed (Dennis 58), Turay; Odedoyin.
Sub not used: Williams.
Goalscorers: Turay (13), Odedoyin (43) (90+5)
Yellow cards: Mohamed (41 foul), O’Keefe (53 foul), Solan (60 foul), Cann (73 foul)
Rusthall: Moronfolu; Anderson (Oguli 88), Blunn, Griffin, Kareem; Miles (Adeyemi 35); Fares (Owoeye 88), Kirby, Low, Dyer; Clarke.
Subs not used: Reid, Clover.
Goalscorers: Adeyemi (55) (65), Clarke (80) (85)
Yellow cards: Adeyemi (45+3 foul), Fares (71 foul)
Referee: Mitchell Bush
Assistant Referees: Richard Myers and Martin Belsom
Attendance: 70