After the snow finally melted, Prime returned to action against old rivals Rusthall III at Cadogan. Prime were missing Barnham, Davis and Henshall and their plans were hit further when Carl Barker pulled out due to illness a couple of hours before kick off. Player/boss Goldsmith would normally have deputised for Barker, but for the 3rd home match this season the league failed to provide a referee so he had no option but to take charge of the game.

Flamank switched to left-back with Sander returning at right-midfield and Mazurkiewicz pressed into action in an unfamiliar central-midfield role. Overy joined Ferguson up front with Fleming the sole sub.

The game kicked off with the wind at Prime's backs and they shaded the opening exchanges with Chapman's long throws already looking threatening.

There was a flashpoint on 15 minutes when Rusthall attacked down the left. Their striker got to the by-line but the ball had just gone out for a goal-kick before he cut the ball back. Goldsmith gave the goal-kick but was then called a cheat and then repeatedly sworn at by Rusthall's burly striker. The stand-in ref managed to avoid sending him off although there were clear grounds to do so.

10 minutes later Rusthall took the lead from the penalty spot and typically it was the same striker who won the penalty after being scythed down in the box by Gilbert - giving the ref no option but to point to the spot. The penalty was dispatched into the corner by their midfielder.

Prime continued to press and Cary who had missed a guilt-edged chance in the opening exchanges headed wide from a corner before Gilbert's firm header produced a stunning save from the visitor's keeper.

Mazurkiewicz then intercepted a short goal kick to smash a shot goalwards - but the keeper again saved well. It was largely one-way traffic with Abu's industry and Chapman's quality to the fore.

It was 1-0 at the break and Prime came out of the traps quickly after the interval with Ferguson going close to his first goal for the club.

Prime's cause was not helped by Flamank twisting an ankle on 55 minutes. Fleming replaced him at left-back although he was soon moved across to the right-wing with Sander switching to left-back.

The killer goal came on the hour when Rusthall's striker turned on the edge of the box and drilled his shot beyond Ellis' slide tackle and Kerton's dive.

As the rain poured down, Prime were becoming very dis-jointed - a case of too many square pegs in round holes. Despite this Chapman continued to be the class act on the pitch and his left-foot carved out chances for both Ferguson and Fleming - but the visiting keeper continued to keep Prime at bay.

A third goal with 15 minutes left sealed the victory for the visitors with Prime guilty of over-committing players forward in search of a goal themselves.

The final nail in the coffin was added in the last minute when 2 players were left unmarked at the back-post from a corner and one of them headed home - again giving the blameless Kerton no chance.

A frustrating day for the hosts in more ways than one. Changes will be made next week for the trip to Hawkenbury where a much-improved performance will be the order of the day.