RUSTHALL’S first home game since Christmas – after a spate of abandonments at Jockey Farm – saw them finally bring to an end their five-game losing run.
The Rustics had to do without Dan Mitchell, who will not be playing for the rest of the season due to work and family commitments.
Fresh from their 2-1 midweek win at league leaders Sevenoaks Town, Erith created the first chance through former Tunbridge Wells player Steve Ite in the 19th minute.
Steph Harper’s shot was comfortably saved by the visiting keeper and then Erith again tested Callum Christie when Osman Prone hit a shot from just inside the area.
The deadlock was broken on 37 minutes when Erith attacked down the right and Ollie Milton met the cross well. Christie managed to palm the shot away but the ball fell to the feet of young striker Sidney Warden, who calmly slotted home.
In the last minute of the first half Rusthall found the equaliser. They caught the visitors on the break down the left and the ball was played into the feet of Steve Smith.
A fine first touch saw the striker beat his marker and he dinked the ball over the diving Adam Malloy for his seventh goal of the season.
After the break Smith looked to run at the defenders at every opportunity and a clearance fell to Nathan Moseley, whose first-time effort went narrowly wide with the keeper beaten.
Both sides began to tire and the game became very open and a draw was a fair result.
Rusthall remain in the bottom three of the Southern Counties East League Premier Division.
Next they face a crucial home game against bottom of the table Hollands & Blair on Saturday (February 24, kick-off 3pm).Â
