Waller’s late spot-kick gives Blues home win

RUSTINGTON Football Club bounced back from their heavy defeat the previous week to earn a late victory at home to AFC Uckfield on Saturday.
L46116H13-FootballRustington.

Sussex League Football. Rustington V Storrington. Action from the match leading up to the goal by No 9.L46116H13-FootballRustington.

Sussex League Football. Rustington V Storrington. Action from the match leading up to the goal by No 9.
L46116H13-FootballRustington. Sussex League Football. Rustington V Storrington. Action from the match leading up to the goal by No 9.

Liam Waller ensured Blues picked up all three points with a 85th-minute penalty as they remained third from bottom in County League Division 2.

Despite the 6-0 home reverse to Broadbridge Heath last weekend, Blues have now picked up seven points from their last five matches and manager Trevor Waller hopes his side can now push on up the table.

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He said: “I think we deserved it and if we hadn’t won, we would have been disappointed. It was good to see a response from the players after last week and, hopefully, we can start moving things forward and start pushing on. We’ve got some big games coming up but it is starting to come together.”

The game was even throughout, although Rustington could have gone in front in the first half but Steve Kirkham could not quite find the net from close range.

Kepper Jimmy Punter, 16, who will by missing for Blues this weekend as he heads to trials for the England Schoolboys side, was also tested during a balanced, end-to-end opening period.

Things continued in the same vein after the break and again Punter was called upon to make some excellent stops.

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As the game neared its climax, the hosts were gifted the chance to earn a vital victory. Mark Burgess – a new signing from division-higher neighbours Littlehampton – jinked his way into the box and was upended in the area, leaving the referee no choice but to point to the spot.

Liam Waller stepped up to convert the resulting penalty, and they managed to hold off intense Uckfield pressure in the dying minutes to see out the win.

Rustington host Haywards Heath Town on Saturday.