Friday night football doesn’t come around too often, nor does Monday night either in non-league football. That’s actually a good thing in my opinion, because it’s one of the reasons more and more people are turning to these levels of game.
The lack of moving kick offs and a solid Saturday routine is perfect for most, however the odd movement to a night time game with plenty of notice can generate a bigger gate with people wanting to see and crave a little more action than their own teams.
Granted the game I was at for a bonus watch was the beginning of the Southern Counties East Ground Hop, six fixtures set over three days and bumper attendances for all. A guest of the Kent Non League Podcast’s Jon Phipps as matchday sponsor, joined as well by the excellent Matt Britt from the blog Tea, Cake, and Football Grounds Of The UK.
The content below was originally paywalled.
I hadn’t been before to Snodland Town, as you know I don’t do ground tick offs and the like. I had heard previously a great place to watch football and some good people around the club, certainly wasn’t disappointed in either respect there.
Their opponents Rusthall arrived for the evening bottom of the table after a torrid start to the season, once that had more promise than it was currently delivering but we’re only just into October with plenty of time and football to turn things around.
On a night where the temperatures really dropped watching an evening game for the first time the big coat might be making it’s first appearance of the season next week, it’s been a good run so far.
Playing down the slope in the first half Snodland would have expected to use the advantage to take the game to their opponents but it was the visitors who took the opportunity early on, we hadn’t even settled into our spot and the opening goal was scored.
The Rustics took the lead on five minutes, a nicely fashioned chance finished with aplomb by Kalani Barton with the game not yet into a pattern.
Despite the early setback the hosts had plenty of time to get a foothold back in the game but the midfield battles were being won by the visitors and when the home side did get control of the ball they couldn’t make any inroads at all into the Rustics back line.
A comfortable lead for the visitors at half time and with the slope their advantage for the second 45, Snodland needed to match their opponents first half performance going up the hill.
But once again the visitors gave their hosts very little space to work with and it wasn’t too much of a surprise when they doubled their lead just after the hour mark, Charlie Clover latching onto a ball over the top and lobbing the advancing Shaun Wicks.
With Rusthall in the ascendancy they looked like scoring with every foray forward despite the best efforts of Tyler Hatton to marshal the backline. A couple of good chances went begging before Robbie Bissett got up highest to head home unchallenged from a corner with 14 minutes left to play to seal the three points and a win that moved the visitors away from the relegation zone for 24 hours at least.
On that performance it’s surprising that Rusthall have been so lowly in the table for much of the season, they didn’t give Snodland an inch all evening and were very good value for their win.
The hosts will be disappointed and frustrated they didn’t give the bumper attendance of 395 anything to shout and cheer about, but they are a club very much on the up and it’s a great facility to watch football at, the hospitality was excellent, well worth a visit.
