Rusthall continue to investigate "distasteful events" at Culverden Stadium and decide to exclude a supporter from their final home game of the season

RUSTHALL have taken the necessary action to exclude a supporter from their final home game of the season after a pyrotechnic device was thrown on to the pitch during the clubs 4-3 defeat at Tunbridge Wells on Easter Monday.

A fan also confronted Tunbridge Wells goalkeeper Aaron Lee-Wharton on the pitch immediately after Rusthall took a 3-2 lead in the 65^th minute, after the goalkeeper allegedly threw the device back into the crowd.

Four green flares/smoke bombs were let off during the course of the game and Rusthall have issued the following statement on the matter.

“Rusthall FC can confirm that the club have taken the necessary action to exclude a supporter from our final home game of the season after a ‘smoke bomb(s)’ was thrown onto the pitch at Culverden Stadium on Monday 18th April.

“Whilst we continue our investigation into the distasteful events surrounding that incident, with the assistance of the county football association, to determine the most appropriate sanctions for the supporter going forward into next season, we would like to remind all supporters that the use of a flare or smoke bomb at a football match, or attempting to bring a pyrotechnic device into a football ground, is a criminal offence.”

Letting off pyrotechnics (flares, smokebombs, fireworks etc) within a football stadium is a criminal offence under the Sporting Events (Control of Alcohol etc) Act 1985.

The 806 crowd at Culverden Stadium was the second highest in Step Five on Easter Monday.

Rusthall remain one place above the relegation zone but level on points with Lordswood after their defeat at Culverden Stadium and welcome Erith & Belvedere to Jockey Farm Stadium on the final day of the season.

Rusthall and Lordswood remain locked on 23 points from their 37 games and one of them will be relegated on Saturday, alongside Tower Hamlets who have collected only 12 points during the course of this season.