2002-03 News Archive

Rushall Olympic wish to retract and apologise for any distress or offence caused by the comments recently made by manager Kevin Hadley in both the Express & Star and Sports Argus newspapers regarding the clubs failure to attain promotion in to the Dr Martens League.

Kevin, akin to many others at Dales Lane, was left very much distraught by the news that the Dr Martens League Board of Directors had voted in favour of Hellenic League runners-up Yate Town to take up the fourth and final promotion place available to the eight feeder leagues at our level of the non-league pyramid. Unfortunately, his comments were made immediately after receiving the disappointing news of Rushall Olympic's promotion rejection and at the time he was not in possession of the full facts regarding the generous assistance and support that the club had undoubtedly been afforded from a number of quarters.

Rushall Olympic would like to publicly thank the officials of the Midland Football Alliance for their support, in particular Mick Joiner, the Vice Chairman of the league, for the tremendous amount of work he has put in on their behalf in the clubs bid to attain their long term goal of achieving Dr Martens League status. Special thanks are also extended from everyone at Dales Lane to the Dr Martens League Secretary Dennis Strudwick and his fellow officials Barry Hughes and Graham Davison whose help and assistance have also been invaluable to the club throughout their promotion bid.

Rushall Olympic were left totally distraught by the Dr Martens League's decision to deny them promotion into the Western Division of the league in favour of West Country outfit Yate Town. In footballing terms Olympic had no doubt they were a far better proposition than the Bristol-based outfit and as such they are still waiting to find out exactly why they have failed in their promotion bid. It may sound like sour grapes, but Dales Lane folk are adamant that the club would have enhanced the Dr Martens League much more than the Hellenic League Runners-Up, mainly due to the fact that they feel the overall playing standard of the Midland Football Alliance is far superior. However, Rushall will be looking to quickly recover from their disappointment when they will again be striving to challenge for title honours during the 2003-04 campaign to finally achieve their long term goal of playing in Dr Martens League football.

Rushall's under-18's ended their fine debut season in the Midland Floodlit Youth league Western Division by coming back from two goals down against Shrewsbury Town to gain a fully deserved two-all draw at Wem. The opening half was summed up when a flowing move involving James Mace, Lee Harrison and Adam Flynn saw the ball moved from one end of the pitch to the other at pace before Adam Flynn's delightful lob cleared the keeper bounced in front of the open net and cleared the cross bar. Rushall fell behind to a soft goal and then the home team increased the lead when a player with first team experience scored a clever goal. In the second half we scored through Gary Kavanagh as the home side decided to emphasise their physical prowess rather than their ability with the ball. With six minutes to go Lee Harrison scored a great equaliser. For the second successive game Olympic thus dented the title aspirations of the opposition after Shrewsbury needed to beat Rushall to secure the title. As a result of the draw, Sutton Coldfield Town clinched the Western Division title by winning their final two games against Gresley Rovers and Tamworth.

Rushall Olympic have an agonising wait until Thursday 8th May for a decision from the Dr Martens League on whether they have been successful in claiming the fourth and final promotion place into the Western Division. The only fly in the ointment is that former Southern League side Yate Town have clinched the runners-up spot in the Cherry Red Records Hellenic League Premier Division on goal difference. Previously Cray Wanderers of the Go Travel Kent League had wrapped up the title on "average points" over Olympic's main promotion rivals Maidstone United, who ground share with Sittingbourne. The Dr Martens League will be paying a visit to both Yate Town and Rushall Olympic on Wednesday 7th May. More news as we have it.

Olympic's first team ended their campaign in style by winning 2-0 away at neighbours Grosvenor Park to ensure themselves the Midland Football Alliance runners-up spot. The final score line should have been by a greater margin, such was the number of the Pic's attempts on goal during the first period, where they hit the woodwork on no less than four occasions and had a good call for a penalty kick turned away by the referee. Rushall finally got the opening goal their efforts fully deserved right on the stroke of half time when a free-kick from the right was headed powerfully home by the predatory Lee Booth from eight yards. Scott Gennard had the ball in the back of the net just after the hour mark, slotting home Steve McCartan's 25-yarder that had cannoned off the upright, but he was inexplicably flagged for being off-side. However, Olympic were not to be denied and with a couple of minutes remaining Carl Palmer gave his side the all-important two-goal cushion when he lobbed the ball over the 'keeper from the left hand corner of the penalty area after his initial shot had been blocked by the custodian. Following the game Rushall were presented with the runners-up shield and medals. Report

Rushall's first team ended their home campaign with a point after salvaging a draw from the jaws of defeat by grabbing two goals in the final five minutes through Nick Campbell and Lee Booth to deny Chasetown what would have been a deserved and hard fought victory. Olympic looked a shadow of the team who had pushed Stourbridge all the way in the Alliance title hunt and Chasetown with the slope and wind at their backs stormed into a two goal lead with strikes in the 33rd and 35th minutes from Lee Gough and Dales Lane old boy Steve Ball. Rushall improved during the second period, but they had to wait until the 85th minute to pull a crucial goal back when substitute Nick Campbell cut in from the left and his low shot from just outside the box found its way into the bottom corner of the net. With less than a minute to go Chasetown were caught off-side and the resulting free-kick punted up-field dropped nicely to top scorer Lee Booth who back headed the ball powerfully into the net from twelve yards to salvage an important point for the Pic's. However, with neighbours Willenhall Town having failed to do them a favour by preventing third placed Stratford Town from winning, Olympic now need a point from their final game to secure runners-up spot. Report

Olympic's under-18's turned in a battling performance to earn a superb one-all draw with high flying Tamworth in the Midland Floodlit Youth league Western Division, a result that virtually guaranteed them a sixth place finish in their debut campaign. Following a goalless first period Rushall were unfortunate to go behind early in the second period when they failed to clear their lines and were punished by the visitors. However, the Pic's superior work rate eventually carried them through when with less than ten minutes remaining they broke forward and Gary Kavanagh headed powerfully home from six yards a left wing cross to earn his side a deserved share of the spoils.

Olympic's first team eased to a comfortable 2-0 victory at near neighbours Pelsall Villa with a goal in each half of the contest. After one or two close calls early on where the Pic's were indebted to some fine goalkeeping from Ryan Price, Lee Booth eased his side ahead just before the interval when he rose majestically to powerfully head home Carl Palmer's far post cross from ten yards. Rushall went on to control the second period throughout and they sealed the game just after the hour mark when Jason Dyer netted his first goal of the campaign with an overhead kick from six yards after Steve McCartan's corner had dropped unchallenged into the Pelsall danger area. Report

Rushall's first team made extremely hard work of a narrow but crucial 2-1 win at Stafford Town to recover from their midweek hangover that was the disappointing home defeat to champions-elect Stourbridge. On an extremely poor pitch good football was very much at a premium and the visitors were shaken when they went a goal behind after only eight minutes. However, top scorer Lee Booth equalised within two minutes and a fifty-fifth minute blockbuster from Ian Long wrapped up the points for the Pic's that guaranteed them a top three finish. Report

Rushall's under-18's continued their good run of form with a resounding 5-2 win at neighbours Pelsall Villa CW, thanks to two goals from top scorer Lee Harrison and one each from Richard Munday, Kurt White and Clive Carroll. Olympic opened their account after just 58 seconds and were two up inside the first 10 minutes before the reached the interval with the score at 3-0 to the Pic's. The second half saw the debut of 'keeper Matthew Marshall, who had just been released by Walsall, and immediately impressed with his confidence and positioning. Pelsall's two goals were conceded as a result of some sloppy play in midfield and defence, however the excellent victory saw the youth team cement their extremely respectable mid-table position in their debut season.

Olympic's first team were left disappointed as they lost by a single goal in front of a bumper Dales Lane crowd to Alliance leaders Stourbridge who extended their advantage over their hosts at the top of the table in the process to six points. Rushall had only themselves to blame after conceding late in the first half through a deflected own goal during a goalmouth scramble and then seeing Lee Booth miss a golden opportunity to draw level from the penalty spot early in the second period - incredibly their third miss from the spot in five games. As tempers flared Rushall's Ian Long and Stourbridge's Dave Benton were both dismissed after squaring up to one another. However, the home side rarely looked like threatening the visitors back line who defended stoutly as the Pic's once again looked incapable of overcoming another Alliance rival who closed them down quickly to stifle their passing game. Report

Olympic's first team eased to a comprehensive 4-0 victory over struggling Halesowen Harriers at Dales Lane as they cemented second spot in the Alliance table and also guaranteed themselves a top five finish in the process. Man of the moment was hat-trick hero and former Harriers' hot-shot Phil Bridge who opened the scoring in the 20th minute, before the Pic's were then able to afford the luxury of a saved Richard Brown penalty early in the second half. The game was wrapped up thanks to two more strikes from Phil Bridge and a Matt Southwick effort. Report

Olympic's first team struck their 600th goal in Alliance football thanks to Ian Long's decisive goal in the narrow 2-1 victory overy Causeway United at The Grove.

Rushall's first team grabbed a late winner at The Grove to record their eighth Allliance victory in a row, thanks to a 2-1 victory over Causeway United. Olympic's supporters were once again put through the mill as their side took the lead in the 54th minute when superb work down the left flank by Ian Long set free Rob Holdcroft whose deep centre was powerfully headed home from twelve yards by Carl Palmer. Despite looking in little danger against a Causeway side boasting no less than six ex-Olympians in their starting line-up, the hosts grabbed an equaliser against the run of play when veteran goal poacher Gary Piggott scrambled the ball home from close range following a corner. However, the Pic's were not to be denied and with two minutes remaining Ian Long popped up to fire home from eight yards after stirling work by Carl Palmer and Lee Booth had set up the opportunity. Report

Rushall's first team continued their fine run of form to record their seventh consecutive Allliance victory with a solid 2-0 triumph at Bridgnorth Town where second half strikes from Lee Booth and Ian Long were enough to push the Pic's back up into second spot in the table. Following a goalless first period, where the home side were indebted to their young 'keeper on a number of occasions, their guests took the lead just before the hour when Lee Booth finished off a move involving Carl Palmer and Scott Gennard to net his 24th goal of the season from 15 yards. Olympic extended their lead with a quarter of an hour remaining when Ian Long rifled home the loose ball from 8 yards after Lee Booth's first time shot was blocked by the Bridgnorth custodian. Report

Dave Read looks to have played in his last gamefor Rushall Olympic this term after being stretchered off at Oldbury United and taken by ambulance to hospital. The commanding left sided defender's back collided with the goal post trying to prevent Oldbury cancelling Rushall's opener and he unfortunately sustained a shoulder injury, before then fallingl awkwardly on his elbow to cause further damage. Everyone at Dales Lane wishes Dave a speedy recovery and we all hope to see him back in action as soon as possible.

Rushall's first team were involved in a truly amazing encounter at Oldbury United in the Midland Football Alliance that ended in an incredible final scoreline of 6-4 in favour of the visitors. The match itself had everything for the neutral spectator: 10 goals; 3 penalties (1 missed), 2 hat-tricks and 2 red cards. Meanwhile Olympic supporters' nerves were left in shreads as they watched their side take the lead on four occasions, only to see them pegged back three times before they finally prevailed at the death by two clear goals. Strikes from Carl Palmer, Lee Booth and Steve McCartan secured a 3-1 advantage at the interval, before Oldbury hit back to make it three apiece early in the second period. Scott Gennard edged the Pic's ahead once more before the home side battled back to 4-4, only for Lee Booth to complete his hat-trick and seal the game during which two home players had been dismissed in the final five minutes. Report

Rushall's under-18's side stormed to an emphatic 6-2 victory over Gresley Rovers at Dales Lane to consolidate sixth place in the Midland Floodlit Youth League Western Division. A debut to remember for Gareth Evans saw him net a hat-trick, as did team mate Adam Flynn, who is now level at the top of Olympic's goal scoring charts with Lee Harrison. Other pleasing points from the evening was the debut of Anthony Keegan at centre half and the fact that 12 of the 16 players on duty for Rushall will still be available for youth team football for another 2 years after the current season has finished, so this should auger well for the future.

Olympic's first team left it extremely late to snatch all three points at home against a spirited Boldmere St Michaels outfit. Despite Rushall enjoying the better of the first half exchanges, the second period saw the visitors give a good account of themselves but they were not able to prevent the winner arriving just as stoppage time was beginning. Skipper Richard Brown's long throw from the right caused chaos in the visitors penalty area and the ball eventually fell to Ian Long who smashed the ball home into the roof of the net from eight yards to maintain his sides second spot in the table behind leaders Stourbridge. Report

Rushall's first team blushes were spared as they hit three goals in the space of six second half minutes to come back from behind against a lowly Cradley Town outfit who were on a run on nine straight defeats. After the defence gifted Cradley an opening goal four minutes into the second period, Steve McCartan sparked Olympic's revival by getting his colleagues out of jail when as he swept Nick Campbell's 65th minute free kick home from just inside the box. Three minutes later and Steve McCartan set up top scorer Lee Booth who rifled home his 20th of the campaign into the bottom corner from the edge of the box. The Pic's comeback was complete in the 71st minute when Ian Long's deep cross was nodded down by Lee Booth and Rob Vassell stabbed home his first goal of the season from close range. Report

Rushall's under-18's side were unfortunate to lose 2-1 at home to high flying Hednesford Town in the Midland Floodlit Youth League Western Division after putting in an extremely good display. Olympic had 'keeper Stewart Grew to thank for making an outstanding first half save to keep the score goalless, but he couldn't prevent his side from going behind just before half time. However, the Pic's equalised immediately through Adam Flynn, but the second period began badly when a lack of concentration saw the visitors take the lead for a second time. Despite the final result their were some very good individual displays on the night, particularly from Neil Sherwood, who is making a come back from a long term injury and Richard Munday, who continues to belie the fact that he is still only 15 years of age and put in an immense performance in several midfield positions during the game.

A young under-18's side battled back from being two goals down to earn a fighting draw at Gresley Rovers in the Midland Floodlit Youth League Western Division. Disaster leading up to the game meant that Olympic had to sign six players on the night to ensure they had a team - all of whom were under 16's and with pick of the crop being Steven Bell who had an outstanding game on his debut. After finding themselves two goals behind in the first period, half-time reorganisation saw Rushall gain the upper-hand in midfield and go on to dominate proceedings. A Lee Harrison header was touched over the line by Matthew Sullivan for his debut goal and as the Pic's continued to press a rash handball by a Gresley defender saw a penalty awarded that Nicky Ellis dispatched with some style.

Popular forward Ian Long made his long awaited 100th start for Rushall Olympic in the 3-0 win at Wednesfield. Now in his second spell at Dales Lane his record to date reads 100 full appearances, 21 appearances as substitute and he has scored 46 goals. Only two other current Rushall players are ahead of him in the career appearance charts, these being Chris Homer with 124 full appearances and 7 as substitute and Carl Palmer with 123 full apperances and 9 as substitute.

Rushall's under-18's side had to settle for a 2-2 draw against neighbours Pelsall Villa CW at Dales Lane in the Midland Floodlit Youth League Western Division. A spirited Pelsall side earned a point after the Pic's had squandered several golden opportunities in the opening 30 minutes alone. Gary Kavanagh opened the scoring after a Craig Thomas shot was blocked by the Villa 'keeper. Chris Chown, a second half subustitute, restored Olympic's lead with a great strike from outside the area, while before and after Chown's goal Pelsall were gifted two goals.

Rushall's ladies team continued their fine run of form as they beat Rea Valley Rovers 2-0 at Dales Lane in the Premier Division of the West Midland Regional Women's League to maintain them in fourth position in the table.