RUSTHALL successfully negotiated their first FA Vase encounter at Park View Road with two goals from Peter Shaw.
The visitors took the lead against the run of play after 12 minutes. Callum Gallie delivered a low cross from the left wing and a mis-kicked clearance ricocheted to Shaw, who drilled a left-footed drive across the goalkeeper and into the far corner from 10 yards.
Erith & Belvedere deservedly levelled 20 minutes later from a corner. Rusthall failed to clear their lines and Robert Curtis flicked the ball up and hit a sweet volley into the top corner.
In the 37th minute Daniel Teeley dived high to his right to prevent Rusthall’s Robbie Bissett from scoring with left-footed free kick from 25 yards.
The home side should have taken the lead when Guyliano-Tresor Mpungi fired a shot against the top of the near post just before half-time.
In the second half, Harry Harding raced on to a flicked header and shot from 10 yards but Rusthall keeper Callum Christie deflected the ball away with his left foot.
It proved to be a crucial save as Rusthall took the lead soon after. Jordan Anderson played a pass inside to Sam Murray. From 30 yards out the substitute hit a left-footed drive that crashed off the top of the right-hand post. Shaw nipped in first and forced the ball home from close range.
Another Bissett free kick was parried by the keeper but Joe Fuller crossed and Nick Harvey’s header struck the far post.
The hosts should have equalised when substitute striker Reginald Yembra hit the bar, with a first-time shot from eight yards out.
With five minutes left Rusthall ensured victory. Callum Ridley brought another diving save from Teeley and his follow-up header hit the bar. Murray latched on to the loose ball and forced it past Teeley into the net.
Rusthall’s joint-manager Andrew McKechnie said: “It was a professional performance. The first half we didn’t look at the races.
“In the second half we upped the pace and played a lot more football. I think we were the better team.”
Rusthall travel to Guildford City in the next round on 15 September. First they face Punjab United in the Southern Counties East League Premier Division on Saturday [September 8, kick-off 3pm].
