Yes, it’s a Cup game, it’s not a league game, so we will go there to win. We probably won’t win The FA Cup but we might win that game, so let’s give it a go, says Rusthall manager Jimmy Anderson

RUSTHALL manager Jimmy Anderson says he wants his side to react from their poor start to life back in the Southern Counties East Football League Premier Division.

The Rustics were promoted from the First Division alongside Kennington and Holmesdale but are at the foot of the table after losing their first two games.

Rusthall suffered a 5-0 opening day defeat at Fisher before crashing to a 4-0 deficit at home to Holmesdale before pulling two goals back through Luke Adams’ penalty and a tap-in from substitute Ijah Currie-Wilson last night.

Anderson takes his side to Aylesford to play their league rivals K Sports in The FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round on Saturday.

Barry Morgan’s side are in fourth-place in the after opening their campaign with a 1-0 home win over newly-promoted side Holmesdale, before being held to a 2-2 draw at home to Tunbridge Wells on Monday night.

“I believe they were here watching us last night so they will know how poor we can play.  They probably don’t know how well we can play,” said Anderson.

“Yes, it’s a Cup game, it’s not a league game, so we will go there to win.  We probably won’t win The FA Cup but we might win that game, so let’s give it a go.”

Anderson must entice more players with experience of Premier Division football if they are to avoid relegation at the end of the season because they put in a poor defensive performance in key moments of last night’s game.

“Individual mistakes have cost us last night and I feel like that happens in every team, unless you’re one of the big dogs but they still make mistakes.

“I’m meant to say ‘to stay in the league’, but I want more than that,” said Anderson, when asked about his aspirations for the season.

“My ambition as a manager is more than that but first and foremost is to enjoy it.  It’s to get the boys playing the way they can and take game by game. 

“We’ve lost the last two but we’ve got another game on Saturday and they come thick and fast and we’ll give it a go on Saturday.”

When asked about the title race, Anderson tips Harry Hudson’s Glebe to come out on top ahead of Chatham Town and Sheppey United come the end of the season.

He said: “I expect Glebe to win the league comfortably with the players’ they’ve got and I feel that anybody can beat anybody on their day, it’s quite competitive.”

Visit Rusthall’s website:  www.rusthallfc.com

K Sports  v  Rusthall
The Emirates FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round
Saturday 7 August 2021
Kick Off 3:00pm
at Cobdown Sports & Social Club, Station Road, Ditton, Aylesford, Kent ME20 6AU