Rusthall 1-0 Phoenix

Phoenix fall to defeat at unbeaten Rusthall

Tyrese Agbontaen in action for Phoenix

Phoenix Sports fell to a narrow and frustrating 1–0 defeat away at Rusthall on Tuesday night, as a late Daniel Blunn strike earned the hosts all three points.

Manager Jake Goodman made two changes to the starting line-up, handing debuts to new signings Paul Lee and Thomas Mitcham following their arrivals on Monday.

Phoenix started brightly and almost took the lead inside eight minutes when Lee broke through the Rusthall defence, only to see his low strike superbly tipped around the post by home goalkeeper Serine Sanneh.

Rusthall responded by striking the top of the crossbar from distance on 15 minutes, with both sides looking to get the ball down and play positive football.

The visitors continued to create chances, and on 24 minutes Lyle Della Verde’s well-struck volley was deflected goalwards by Mitcham, but once again Sanneh produced an outstanding save to deny Phoenix the opener.

As half-time approached, Della Verde tried his luck from range after a neat team move, firing just over, before an injury to Kristian Campbell forced an early substitution, with Jerald Aboagye replacing him shortly before the interval.

After the restart, Sam Freeman was called into action to make a fine save, tipping a Rusthall effort wide of the post. Phoenix kept pushing, and Della Verde saw a goalbound shot blocked on 74 minutes as Goodman’s side looked for a breakthrough.

Their best opportunity came nine minutes from time when Aboagye burst down the right and delivered a low cross for Mitcham, whose close-range effort was again brilliantly kept out by Sanneh.

However, with just four minutes remaining, Rusthall found the decisive goal. A corner wasn’t fully cleared, and Daniel Blunn reacted quickest to prod the ball home from close range.

Despite a late push, Phoenix couldn’t find an equaliser and were left to rue a number of missed chances in a game that could easily have swung in their favour.