In a dress-rehearsal for their big cup semi-final in March, Prime travelled to Rusthall IV looking to extend their winning run to 12 games.

Their hopes had been hit though with 'keeper Lewis Kerton unavailable and the Polish contingent of Mazurkiewicz (injured) and Polinski (working) both absent.

17 year old Reece Overy stepped up to put the gloves on and simultaneously become Prime's youngest ever player in a competitive match. Gilbert returned in defence with captain Matt Walker reverting to his favoured midfield role, and jet-setters Joe Walker and Scott Walters returned from a week's skiing just in time for kick-off. Walker started up front but Walters had to settle for a place on the bench.

It was an icy cold day which may partly explain Prime's unusually slow start to the game. Rusthall were first to everything and Prime's defence was at sixes and sevens with their usually solid defensive line all over the place.

There were green shirts all over the place as the home side attacked down the Southwood Road slope and debutant keeper Overy made a couple of smart saves to keep Prime in the game.

When Prime actually went forward they looked dangerous against an ageing Rustics backline and Joe Walker should have scored on 10 minutes. His first shot was well saved but he really should have scored the rebound rather than effectively passing the ball back to the keeper - the shot of a jet-lagged man!

But Prime did take the lead soon after as Excell's deft through-ball found Walker who shinned the ball passed the advancing keeper and it rolled into the net.

Rusthall were behind for only 5 minutes though. Their tricky young winger Jack Rusbridge has won them many a penalty already this season and Abu's rash lunge resulted in referee Delves rightly pointing to the spot once more.

Their midfielder stepped up and sent Overy the wrong way.

Rusthall were soon ahead after Prime half-cleared a corner but when the ball came back across from the left, Rusthall had players queuing up to apply the finish at the back post and young Rusbridge was first in line and made no mistake.

It was very much a game of attack versus defence - with both sides looking shaky defensively. Excell squandered a half chance for Prime before Henshall raced down the right and centred for Abu who shot straight at the keeper.

At the other end Overy produced a superb save with his feet to stop Rusthall taking a 2-goal lead into the break.

At half-time a frustrated Goldsmith tore into his players and made it clear that virtually any of them could have been replaced but the only change made was to bring on Walters for Sander, with Ellis reverting to full-back and Davis switching across to the right.

It was an attempt to sure up a shoddy defensive line which had consistently played Rusthall onside for most of the first 45 minutes. Sander's complaints at the decision were not something that he should be proud of and will not be tolerated again.

Prime started the second half looking more committed - but Rusthall increased their lead when again a corner was only part-cleared and their striker hooked the ball into the net with Overy again stranded.

Rusthall's young forward line were now really starting to play some good football but Gilbert and Parsons were providing stern resistance even if Ellis was having a day to forget at left-back with the ball seeming to bobble over his foot every time it came near him!

Prime pulled a goal back when Walker linked up with Walters and Abu and from a seemingly impossible angle he rounded the keeper and smashed the ball home for 3-2.

There was a crucial moment soon after when the keeper spilled a shot from the edge of the box and Excell got to the rebound first but his left-footed effort was saved by the feet of the keeper and the chance of levelling the game had gone.

Rusthall increased their lead when their striker beat the offside trap from a free-kick and controlled neatly before firing in beyond Overy for 4-2. Moments earlier Goldsmith rightly flagged the same player offside from an identical situation but this time he timed his run to perfection. Some of the local idiots got on Goldsmith's back after the first incident - I suggest they learn the rules of the game!

Barnham replaced Davis for the final 25 minutes and he rose well on the line from another Rusthall corner to flick the ball onto the post and away to safety.

With both his strikers cutting disconsolate figures after consistently being flagged offside - sometimes even when they were in their own half - Goldsmith replaced Excell and injected a bit more fight into the side for the closing stages.

But Rusthall's own sub - manager Dave Rusbridge got his name on the scoresheet (apparently for the first time in 13 years!) when he stabbed home a rebound after Overy had initially produced a stunning save from a well-struck shot.

Goldsmith encouraged Prime to fight til the end and from one of his long throws, captain Matt Walker smashed home to reduce the arrears to 5-3.

The final whistle sounded soon after and Prime were left to reflect on the end of their winning run of 4 months. Rusthall deserved their victory and it is a mystery that they are languishing in mid-table.

The teams will meet twice more this season, including that cup semi-final and The Numbers will hope to turn in a much better performance in both encounters.