MATCH REPORTS FOR OCT

Saturday 31st October
Going into the game Rusper were always favourites to win against the struggling Henfield. We are aware that the struggling sides are capable of coming out fighting and upsetting the favoured teams. As well as spirit these sides can call on, they also have in many cases the advantage of having a second and first team playing in the upper leagues. Henfield made it hard work for the lads and going in 0-0 at half time is testament to how well they played. In the end the Rusper boys proved fitter and more creative and converted three well worked chances finishing up 3-0.
It looks like the hard work we are putting in on our fitness is paying off and this will continue while we also look at our passing and moving; we seem to struggle with this at times and I think it is costing us possession and goals.

Saturday 24th October
Still on for the Treble
The Tony Kopp Cup is entered by teams from Division 3 down and Rusper were drawn against Upper Beeding 2nds in the first round.
After a kick off time mix-up the game finally got under way at half two instead of the scheduled 2pm. I am pleased to report, despite some of the lads not being convinced, our secretary and ex-manager was in the clear and it was an Upper Beeding balls-up that delayed the start. This meant the game had to finish in 90 minutes or the light would have gone.
We kicked off into the wind and Beeding took full advantage of the conditions, going two nil up through one well worked goal and one gift from the stand-in centre half, Michael, the other Smith having to cover for our missing first choice keeper. It remained two nil at half time despite us playing the better football and pressing the Beeding goal in our typically relentless style.
The second half was a totally different game with our decent football paying dividends in terms of chances. We missed them but still we were making them. Shaun T missed one penalty (of three) that was awarded then made amends by tucking one away. Colin Beesley again scored a thunderbolt and Matt Clarke finished coolly to take us through to the next round.
It is not unusual for teams to allow their heads to drop, going on to concede more and taking a real pasting. Not us, we believe in ourselves and the rest of the lads around us too much to take a beating like that. Let's face it we were still 2 - 1 down with 4 minutes to go and left the pitch (deserving) 3 - 2 winners.

Goals: Shaun Taylor, Colin Beesley, Matt Clarke.

Back to the league next week where we host Henfield 3rd's, kick off 2pm.

Saturday 17th October
Back on track.
Saturday saw Rusper's League campaign regain some momentum with a convincing win at home against Plaistow. Having dropped from the league above Plaistow were always going to give us a game and that they did. Going in 1 nil up at half time they must have been confident of taking all three points, a mix up at the back having seen a deflected throw-in worm it's way in to the back of the net (more concentration required from our lads). We pressed and pressed but could not grab that all important equaliser.
Sparkey arrived with 2 minutes of the first half remaining and came on in the centre of the park to try and gain some control over Plaistow's long high ball tactics. He did this very well and we were level within 10 minutes of the restart, Sparkey himself getting the goal. We continued to push like crazy and eventually took the lead thanks to some clinical finishing from the skipper Don. Having taken the lead Sparkey returned to his favoured position of centre half to ensure we conceded no more.
Sam Charman was lucky to finish the game after felling the Plaistow striker. Despite the striker's claims of football being a man's game he had to limp out hurt. The resultant penalty didn't test Sam the keeper going out for a goal kick.
Enter super super Grimsby. Some fantastic flowing football followed the penalty and eventually after wave upon wave of attack the Plaistow keeper spilt a Matt Clarke drive and who was there to clinically slot it away - Grimsby, who was probably surprised to get on!!!

Goals: Doanto, Sparkey, Grimsby

Next week we travel to Upper Beeding to play in the first round of the Tony Kopp Cup.

Saturday 10th October
Every Dog has it's day.
It was Wisborough Green 2nds day. Nothing we could do would have changed a result that was both disappointing and confusing. Going in to the game we were out and out favourites having thumped Billingshurst last weekend. We knew we couldn't get over confident, complacent or cocky. That message got through to the lads. On the day there was not a lot between the two sides and had the ball dropped for us we would have come away with the points or at least a point which we deserved. The middle of the park was un-controlled and scrappy, too much lashing at the ball instead of getting our heads up and using the ball intelligently. Every bobble, dodgy bounce and 50:50 decision from the referee went against us and that was nearly impossible to beat. Dan Budd was back among the goals but is now on a lengthy ban due to pre-season petulance. We will be back to our deadly best this coming weekend when we host Plaistow and hopefully get the league campaign back on track.

Saturday 3rd October
A polished performance.
Saturday saw us host Bilingshurst 2nds from division 2 north who come into the game 3rd in the league and hoping to put together a decent cup run.
9 goals later the game was over and Rusper the victors. The game started with Rusper playing against the wind and having to battle against a monstrous kick from the Billingshurst keeper. We soon got to grips with that and despite being camped in the final third for most of the first half we conceded first after being caught by the keeper's kick. The back four adjusted well and remained strong. Going forward we were unstoppable, again creative, athletic and finally devastating in front of goal. Dan Budd is back amongst the goals and netted one (a relief for him and the coaching team). Matt Clarke slotted a hat-trick, Shaun Clarke and Scott Cox netted one each. The second half saw us playing with the wind and Billingshusrt simply couldn't cope with our relentless attacking play. All in all the result flattered Billingshurst who I'm sure thought that they just needed to turn up in order to progress to the next round. The game was mostly well spirited with the exception of a couple who it would appear don't like it up 'em!

We will remain full of confidence and ensure we don't get complacent and cocky. We've a lot to do to secure a respectable finish in the division.

Goals: Matt Clarke (3), Dan Budd, Shaun Taylor, Scott Cox.