Match Reports - April/May 2004

Studley 2 - 1 Rushall Olympic

Midland Football Alliance

Saturday 1st May 2004

Rushall Olympic brought the curtain down on their wholly inconsistent Alliance campaign at Studley with a performance that amply summed up their season as they took an early lead, spurned several opportunities to extend their advantage, before poor defending gifted their opponents all three points.

Despite neither side having anything to play for, other than pride, with league positions not at stake regardless of the result, for the fourth time in the last five games Rushall enjoyed the perfect early start as they stunned 5th place Studley with a fourth minute goal. Aaron Bishop made a telling burst from midfield before engaging in a good interchange of passing with Kirk Maragh that released Mark Holdcroft whose initial drive from just inside the box was parried clear by 'keeper Lewis, but top scorer Maragh latched on to the rebound and rifled home from ten yards for his 17th of the season.

As the visitors continued to press home their possessional advantage on 10 minutes a Rob Holdcroft free-kick from his own half was punted forward and flicked on by the head of Aaron Bishop to Mark Holdcroft down the left channel, but as the striker turned and fired first time from fifteen yards the ball went agonisingly wide of the woodwork.

Although the hosts began to come more into the contest as the first half progresses, it was still Olympic who were the more creative in front of goal. In the 38th minutes good work by Andy Malcolm down the right saw him beat his marker before floating a delightful ball into the box that Mark Holdcroft instinctively ran on to, but could only place his first time effort marginally over the woodwork from twelve yards.

With the interval fast approaching Studley finally began to impose some authority on proceedings and on 42 minutes Rushall 'keeper Danny Watson saved his colleagues when he did well to parry Kavanagh's fifteen yard low drive to safety after the midfielder had connected with a far post corner kick from the right.

With barely a minute to go until the interval all the visitor's previous hard work was undone when Rob Vassell's ambitious push forward down the left flank was halted just inside Studley's territory by wing back Wilson, who stole possession and rapidly broke away in the opposite direction. With Rushall's rear guard failing to produce adequate cover the ball was swiftly played into the feet of the unmarked Crisp on the edge of the box who needed little encouragement to fire low and hard into the bottom left corner of the net past the ruthlessly exposed Danny Watson.

Conceding the sucker punch goal on the stroke of half-time certainly didn't appear to dampen the Pic's attacking spirit and within a minute of the commencement of the second period Aaron Bishop split the home defence wide open with an excellent lofted ball to Mark Holdcroft, but despite finding himself in a terrific position the front runner couldn't lift the ball high enough over the advancing Lewis and the Studley stopper averted the danger.

Four minutes later and good work by Mark Holdcroft in the bottom right corner saw him centre to striker partner Kirk Maragh on the far post, but his strike partner could only flash a header well wide of the target.

As the second half progressed Studley gradually began to gain increasing control of the game and Rushall's fate was ultimately sealed in the 66th minute when another episode of atrocious marking resulted in the ball being whipped in from the right to the unfettered Crisp lurking in the penalty area who had all the time in the world to pick his spot and slot home from close range with the simplest of finishes.

Within five minutes of going behind the Pic's suffered another set back when the poorly positioned referee failed to spot Kirk Maragh being blatantly barged off the ball in the Studley penalty area, this coming after skipper Richard Brown had also suffered similar treatment at the hands of the home defence prior to them taking the lead. Needless to say each penalty appeal had fell upon deaf ears.

With eight minutes remaining it could have been far worse for Rushall as they received a massive let off when Wilson easily stole possession from the dallying Graham Ashton before cutting inside and playing the ball into the unmarked Crisp twelve yards out. Incredibly, the usually reliable veteran striker somehow completely missed the target with at least half an open goal at his mercy and his hopes of a hat-trick evaporated as the ball was side footed wide of the left post.

With the final whistle there was little coincidence that the Dales Lane sides' league record backed up the well publicised indictments of inconsistency as their number of victories equalled the number of losses and was only exceeded by the number of stalemates, the highest of any other side in the Alliance.

Rushall Olympic 1 - 2 Willenhall Town

Midland Football Alliance

Tuesday 27th April 2004

Overly charitable defending from Rushall Olympic gave title chasing neighbours Willenhall Town all three points at Dales Lane as top scorer Quilt was gifted a goal on a silver platter in each half to ensure that the Alliance championship will now be decided upon the final day of the season.

However, the visitor's rear guard also appeared less than comfortable on occasions and were eventually forced to survive a nervy final ten minutes after the home side pulled a goal back through their own top scorer Maragh.

As predicted Willenhall, who fielded six ex-Olympians in their starting eleven, began the game at a high tempo and in only the 4th minute Quilt's left footed thirty yard dipping free kick from the right channel had to be smartly parried away at full stretch by 'keeper Watson at his left post.

Unfortunately, the hosts failed to heed the warning and on 6 minutes they were far less fortunate when from a harmless looking throw in down the right the ball was whipped into the danger area and the unmarked Quilt stooped to head home the easiest of goals from close range.

The remainder of the first period became somewhat of an abject affair with Willenhall failing to build upon their upbeat start as they began to lose momentum, while Rushall appeared incapable of stringing a succession of passes together, let alone muster a worthwhile effort upon goal.

13 minutes into the second half and Olympic's cause suffered a major set back when they lost 'keeper Watson through injury and was replaced with outfield substitute Ashton. However, the expected offensive onslaught never materialised and when Willenhall did eventually extend their lead the makeshift stopper was totally blameless. On this occasion more woeful defending in the 69th minute from Rushall's creaking rear guard allowed Quilt to run through unhindered down the left before cutting inside and unleashing an unstoppable drive from the edge of the box that flew into the net past the helpless Ashton.

With nothing to lose, Olympic finally cast off some of their inhibitions and they began to exert some telling pressure on the visitors defence. With 11 minutes remaining the Reds own defensive vulnerabilities were exploited to the full when with Rushall's first worthwhile attack of the game Maragh's sheer tenacity was rewarded as he threaded his way through the Willenhall back line and slotted clinically home past the advancing De Bont from fifteen yards into the bottom right corner.

However, it was all very much too little, too late from the Pic's and now Willenhall go into their final game of the campaign at Stratford Town on Saturday afternoon knowing that nothing less than a win will do to push home their title aspirations.

Rushall Olympic U-16's 1 - 0 Forest CFC "A" U-16's

Walsall Junior Youth League R.F. Edwards Cup Semi-Final

Sunday 25th April 2004

Reporter: Mac Moon-Taylor

Rushall Olympic's U-16's side reached the Final of the R.F. Edwards Cup thanks to a thoroughly deserved single goal victory over Walsall Junior Youth League Second Division Champions Forest CFC "A".

Rushall had a slow start to this important fixture and during the first eight minutes of the contest Forest had three early opportunities that forced home 'keeper Brown into some good early work. However, Olympic went on to totally dominate the game and ultimately had striker Turton to thank for scoring the crucial winning goal on the hour mark that clinched a coveted place in the Final.

Overall, Olympic played some of their best football of the campaign with several players standing out in particular. Ellis enjoyed an excellent game on the right wing as he totally destroyed Forest's left back and also supplied a lot of quality balls into the box. Newton also ran the Forest defence ragged at times and was unlucky not to get his name on the score sheet, while Billingham ran the show in the middle of the park for the Dales Lane side. Rushall's back four also produced arguably their best performance of the season as they competently dealt with the lively trio of Arrowsmith, Halls and Pinnington to deny forest a victory. Meanwhile, Forest were fortunate to have defender Poulton in great form who was ever alert to the constant threat of the Rushall attack.

Second Division runners-up Rushall Olympic now go on to meet First Division outfit Holy Name in the Final of the competition.

Boldmere St Michaels 2 - 4 Rushall Olympic

Midland Football Alliance

Saturday 24th April 2004

Rushall Olympic's challenge for a mid-table Alliance finish gathered momentum as they came from behind to register an emphatic 4-2 victory at Boldmere St Michaels with the deciding goals arriving in the final eleven minutes of the contest.

Rushall enjoyed another perfect start to a league game when in only the 6th minute a break down the left by Holdcroft saw the striker centre to the far post to Marshall. The wing back, who had made a storming run into the box, in turn squared the ball first time to Maragh who took the pass in his stride and rifled home into the roof of the net with a fierce drive from just inside the edge of the box.

However, not of the first time this season, Olympic proceeded to throw away an early advantage when on 19 minutes they needlessly lost possession in midfield in time honoured fashion and the unmarked Jones was allowed time and space to loft the ball over the top of the static visiting rear guard on to the head of Lane who deftly flicked the ball over 'keeper Watson into the net, who had stranded himself flat footed in no-man's land.

Conceding the equaliser momentarily brought Rushall back to their senses and midway through the first period a good interchange of passes between Maragh and Ashton down the left channel saw the latter cross to the far post to Bishop who drilled the ball hard into the ground and its rising trajectory was only prevented from going in at the top left corner by a last ditch defensive header. However, the danger wasn't effectively cleared by the Mikes defence and the ball returned to Ashton who could only strike his vicious low drive from the periphery of the box into the side netting.

The remainder of the first period was largely a forgettable affair, but Olympic did begin the second half brightly and in the 52nd minute Maragh did well to wrestle possession away from the Boldmere defence down the right flank before advancing some fifteen yards and unleashing a low drive from the edge of the box that rolled marginally wide of the left hand post.

However, the visitors were shaken barely a minute later as they relinquished the lead for the first and only time in the contest. Boldmere's live wire wide man Gough was allowed to run hindered from just inside the Rushall half, prior to latching on to a superb defence splitting ball and leaving five opponents in his wake before rifling home a thunderous rising shot from the edge of the box into the top right corner of the net past the bewildered Watson.

Fortunately, the goal finally woke up a decidedly lack lustre Rushall side as they set about the task of redressing the balance.

Within five minutes of going behind the Pic's were quickly back on level terms when Ashton ran on to an excellent defence splitting ball from Read and powered his way to the goal line, before delivering a telling low cross into the danger area. However under severe pressure, with the visiting front line bearing down upon him, defender Price could only scoop an attempted clearance past 'keeper Knight into his own goal from close range.

The equalising goal appeared to dent Boldmere's confidence somewhat and Olympic took full advantage as they pressed forward in earnest in search of a winning goal. On 70 minutes Lanns drifted down the left and delivered a deep pin-point cross to Maragh whose side footed effort forced 'keeper Knight to push the ball around the left hand post for a corner.

With the visitors probing for an opening good work in the 77th minute by substitute Malcolm down the right flank set up Maragh and this time Rushall's top scorer drilled in a low drive from twelve yards that was somehow parried away at the last second by the Boldmere custodian for another corner kick.

Eventually the Boldmere defence yielded under the increasing pressure when on 79 minutes more good work by the industrious Ashton down the left saw him turn his marker inside out before reaching the goal line and delivering an inch perfect cross to the far post which Maragh rifled home past Knight into the roof of the net from eight yards.

With Rushall now very much in the ascendancy it was little surprise when they further pressed home their advantage with five minutes remaining. Maragh brought a lofted ball under control and quickly fed strike partner Holdcroft on the edge of the box who instinctively ghosted past his marker before cutting inside and curling the ball sweetly into the top left corner from fifteen yards past the despairing dive of 'keeper Knight.

Rushall Olympic U-16's 6 - 0 Brownhills Whites U-16's

Walsall Junior Youth League U-16's Division 2

Sunday 18th April 2004

Reporter: Mac Moon-Taylor

Rushall hit a six to give them runners up spot in the league.

The day promised to be good, with a large crowd and Cheerleaders who provided entertainment during the match and at half time.

From the whistle Rushall went out to win, controling the game for long periods. Iin the 8th minute, Stanaway put a ball into Ellis who rounded his man and got a ball through to Man of the Match, Newton. Newton then finished into the bottom corner of the net getting his shot in despite the keeper and defender closing him down.

The 16th minute was to be the next goal after Newton was upended 10 yards out of the box. Ellis stepped up to take the kick, Newton flicked it on and Billingham put it away with a powerful diving header at the back post.

Brownhills put some pressure on the Rushall keeper in the 63rd minute and won themselves a corner, however the ball was cleared to just outside the box, where Newton was waiting. He picked up the loose ball and headed for goal. With only 3 Brownhills players to beat and the pace of Newton, you would not be blamed for counting the goal. Newton was forced wide by the first of the Brownhills men and managed to keep the ball in, he then cut inside another man, and round the keeper, to lay the ball across the goal for a simple finish for Billingham for his second and Rushall's third.

In the 74th minute Newton again became instrumental in the goal, after Dwain Phillips had moved his feet like a scene from Billy Elliot he fed Newton, again his pace played a big part in the build up. He was upended in the box and from the resulting spot kick, Stanaway drilled a ball into the net for his first and Rushall's fourth. The Brownhills custodian did manage to get a hand to it but the shot was too powerful to stop.

57 seconds later Ellis beat two men down the flank and played a great ball in for Stanway who rose like a salmon above everyone else to head home giving him his brace and Rushall's 5th. As soon as the goal went in Stanaway asked to be substituted and was replaced by Bailey, who with his first touch almost scored from an identical cross by Ellis, it was the alertness of the Brownhills keeper that kept it out.

In the 76th minute Phillips & Newton were replaced by Wilde and Goode, the latter making a good run into the box to be denied by Brownhills captain Reeves who had a great game.

The 78th minute saw the scoring wrapped up when Ellis again beat his markers on the flank and chipped the advancing keeper from and acute angle on the edge of the box.

Thoughout the game Rushall's keeper Brown who had little to do stayed alert and when called upon to stop four great efforts from Brownhills did his job perfectly to keep a clean sheet.

Rushall: Brown, Maylin, Evans, Stanaway, Woolley, Arrowsmith, Ellis, Billingham, Turton, Newton, D. Phillips, Subs: Bailey, Wilde, Goode.

WELL DONE LADS

Rushall Olympic 1 - 1 Oldbury United

Midland Football Alliance

Saturday 17th April 2004

This uninspiring game between two sides with arguably little to play for served up typical end of season fare for the sparse crowd. However, some Dales Lane folk may have seen this result as two points lost for a Rushall Olympic outfit who took an early lead, but thanks to the home sides second half display it was always going to be a matter of when and not if Oldbury United went on to gain at least an equaliser.

Rushall enjoyed the perfect start when with only 10 minutes gone fine work by the industrious Lanns down the left flank won his side a corner kick that was delivered with pin-point accuracy to the far post by McCartan and unmarked skipper Brown powered home a header into the bottom left corner from ten yards.

However, characteristically of this campaign, gaining the early lead has rarely done Olympic any favours and they appeared content to just sit back on their goal and let the opposition dictate the game at their own tempo.

In the 14th minute confusion between Pic's 'keeper Watson and R.Holdcroft almost proved costly as the latter's defensive knock back with his head went bouncing past the advancing custodian and narrowly shy of the left post, much to their collective relief.

With the visitors probing for an opening a minute later Watson was forced to tip over Jackson's over ambitious cross-cum-shot from just inside Rushall's territory down the left flank.

On 28 minutes another mix-up in Olympic's defensive ranks, this time between Watson and Marshall, saw the defender sell his 'keeper well short with a poor needless back pass and Oldbury's usually reliable striker Palmer nipped in to take up possession. However, after show-boating in front of a virtual open goal he delayed his shot and was cleverly shepherded away by the home rear guard before eventually being robbed of possession.

The remainder of the first period was largely a forgettable affair, but Rushall almost extended their lead 6 minutes into the second period when debutant striker Christie chased a lost cause down the right wing to the goal line and hooked the ball over to the far post. Midfielder Bishop, who had made a storming run into Oldbury's penalty area, connected smartly with the ball to produce a powerful low volley that flew agonisingly past the left upright from twelve yards with 'keeper Woodcock well beaten.

A familiar story unfolded for the home side of poor marking and passing, coupled with a distinct lack of passion and graft in key areas of the park that compounded matters as Oldbury slowly gained more confidence and exploited the alarming gaps that began to appear in Olympic's midfield.

The only surprise was that the visitors had to wait until the 81st minute to register their thoroughly deserved equaliser. Jackson was allowed to progress some twenty yards unchallenged with the ball down the left channel to the edge of the box before being unceremoniously hack down by Smith's agricultural challenge as the winger forced his way into the penalty area. Fortunately, striker Palmer made up for his glaring first half miss by slotting home the resulting penalty kick into the bottom right corner of the net past the unlucky Watson, who got a hand to the ball but it spun away across the goal line.

Oldbury's equalising goal finally woke up the increasingly lack lustre home side and as Rushall pushed forward following the restart midfielder Lanns tried his luck with a twenty yard rising drive that 'keeper Woodcock was forced to parry over the bar for a corner.

In the final minute of the game Olympic's Lanns again set himself up with another opportunity from a similar position, but this time Woodcock held the low effort well.

Strangely, referee Mr Page deemed it necessary to signal for full time with at least 30 seconds left on the watch prior to the 90 minute mark, despite there being several incidences of injury requiring treatment. Perhaps, like the spectators, the Derbyshire official had already seen enough.

Rushall Olympic 1 - 0 Pelsall Villa

Midland Football Alliance

Monday 12th April 2004

Steve McCartan's first goal of the season for Rushall Olympic on nine minutes was enough to fire his side to their first victory in five Alliance games and sentence neighbours Pelsall Villa to a bottom three finish and potential relegation.

Olympic began the contest in lively fashion and they pushed Pelsall firmly on to the back foot as the home crowd were left wondering just how the visitors had managed to convincingly beat league leaders Rocester at the weekend.

The application of sustained pressure quickly paid handsome dividends when Rushall deservedly took the lead in the 9th minute as McCartan robbed his midfield adversary of possession before advancing forward to the edge of the box and ultimately drilling the ball home off the inside of the right hand post past the despairing dive of 'keeper Pemberton.

Three minutes later and Olympic almost doubled their advantage when striker Maragh got in where it hurts by challenging the Pelsall custodian and McCartan flicked the loose ball goal ward from close range, but somehow Pemberton recovered to parry the ball away to safety.

The visitors finally made their mark on the contest in the 20th minute when Ward turned and fired in a vicious rising drive from the edge of the box, but 'keeper Watson was more than equal to the challenge as he initially took the sting out of the effort and gathered safely at the second attempt.

As the first period progressed the Dales Lane side began to rely more heavily on the long ball game and just after the half hour mark a lofted ball in from the left channel to the far post was neatly brought under control by Maragh, but from the acutest of angles he could only manage to flash his shot across the face of goal.

Despite their overall dominance, in the closing stages of the opening half Rushall twice went close to relinquishing their slender advantage. On 40 minutes skipper Brown's attempted clearance within close proximity to his own goal line ricocheted off striker W.Clarke and narrowly looped over the woodwork for a goal kick. Meanwhile, three minutes later Pelsall broke rapidly forward on the counter attack and W.Clarke's goal bound drive from twenty five yards had to be smartly pushed away for a corner by 'keeper Watson at full stretch around his right hand post.

The second period saw the Pic's once more begin brightly as their passing game made a welcome reappearance. Within four minutes of the restart M.Holdcroft's corner from the left was met by the head of Brown whose powerful effort was frantically scrambled clear by the Pelsall rearguard.

With Rushall continuing to push forward in search of a second decisive goal, Lanns progressed menacingly down the left flank before feeding Barnfield, who in turn pulled the ball back for Marshall just inside the box. However, the wing back opted to tamely place his shot which ended up well wide of the left upright.

Just after the hour mark Olympic had a good call for a penalty waved away by referee Vaughan as M.Holdcroft looked to have been unfairly upended just inside the Pelsall box by a clumsy defensive challenge.

In the 62nd minute Villa 'keeper Pemberton again saved his colleagues as he was forced to tip away Maragh's vicious twenty yard drive for a corner.

With Rushall continually probing the visitors defence for an opening Maragh flashed a powerful volley narrowly over the bar from the edge of the box on 78 minutes after being set up by strike partner M.Holdcroft.

With the encounter moving into its final stages Olympic made one last concerted effort to settle the game once and for all. With less than a minute of normal time remaining Maragh was sent clear but could only scoop his effort over when well place from twelve yards out, while straight from the resulting goal kick Pelsall were quickly under the cosh as Bishop fired in a terrific twenty yard volley narrowly over the bar.

Still Rushall weren't finished and on the stroke of full time M.Holdcroft's corner from the right was sent goal wards by Bishop's excellent diving header from fifteen yards, but 'keeper Pemberton was again on hand to gather the ball up at low level on his line to avert the danger.

Rushall Olympic 0 - 1 Quorn

Midland Football Alliance

Saturday 10th April 2004

Rushall Olympic have now gone four Alliance games without a victory and had it not been for a 70th minute defensive blunder the home side would and should have got something from the game against a title chasing Quorn outfit who failed to live up to their pre-match billing.

Rushall were first to threaten on 9 minutes when McCartan ghosted past his marker and produced a lofted ball into the box that was hooked back by Bishop to M.Holdcroft who let fly from the edge of the area with a volley that zipped narrowly wide of the right post.

As the visitors began to find their feet in the 13th minute Puttnam headed over with a looping effort from a left wing cross, while a minute later player-manager Keast's ambitious 35 yard drive sailed well wide of the left corner of the woodwork.

Quorn thought they had taken the lead on 19 minutes, but as the ball nestled in the back of the net referee Smith adjudged that Olympic 'keeper Watson had been impeded.

Just before the half hour mark the Leicestershire side were again on the offensive as K.Noble's tame 25 yard free-kick was easily gathered by Watson at the foot of his right post.

As Rushall probed for an opening, a spell of sustained pressure in the 35th minute saw a loose ball eventually fall to Bishop whose excellent low drive cannoned powerfully off the left upright, but with 'keeper M.Nurse beaten all ends up, nobody could latch on to the rebound.

With the Pic's finishing the first half strongly, a minute prior to the interval an excellent run by Bishop down the left channel ended with a deep pin-point cross to M.Holdcroft whose first time drive from the acutest of angles was blocked by the legs of the Quorn custodian and the ball was scrambled away to safety.

During the second period the home side began to turn the screw on their high-flying guests and within four minutes of the restart M.Holdcroft played a lovely ball in low from the left and Maragh just failed to make a full contact and 'keeper M.Nurse gratefully gathered.

Six minutes later and as Lanns' attacking run was unceremoniously halted on the edge of the Quorn penalty area, a well worked free-kick saw Bishop square the ball to M.Holdcroft, whose low goal bound shot was repelled only as far as Barnfield, but the young midfielder failed to make a solid connection and his snatched close range effort was easily smothered by 'keeper M.Nurse.

More pressure from Rushall in the 65th minute forced a corner down the right flank that was met by a powerful downward header from skipper Brown 15 yards out, but the visiting stopper again saved his colleagues by just preventing the ball from crossing the goal line and averting the danger.

With Quorn limited to finding an attacking outlet on the counter offensive, the 70th minute saw the Rushall defence spurn two opportunities to clear a potential threaten down the left flank before the ball was played into the penalty area and was headed home from eight yards by C.Noble, who had been given the proverbial freedom of Dales Lane to roam into the danger zone totally unmarked.

The goal came as a mighty blow to Olympic who had, up to that point, put in so much hard work and looked arguably the better of the two sides. When they did eventually regain their composure on 80 minutes they were left infuriated as Bishop's storming run into Quorn's penalty area ended with a blatant defensive trip on the midfielder, but despite stumbling heavily referee Smith incredibly waved away the home sides protestations, which eventually led to the victim of the 'foul' being booked for his troubles as play moved to the other end of the pitch.

Rushall almost had the final word in the contest as they pushed Quorn firmly on to the back foot when with two minutes of normal time remaining M.Holdcroft's terrific 25 yards goal bound half volley was somehow acrobatically tipped over at the last second by 'keeper M.Nurse.

Rushall Olympic 2 - 1 Bridgnorth Town

Polymac Services League Cup Semi-Final 2nd Leg

Tuesday 6th April 2004

Rushall Olympic progressed into the League Cup Final for the second time in three seasons after overcoming a resilient Bridgnorth Town outfit at Dales Lane thanks to a goal in each half from striker partners Kirk Maragh and Mark Holdcroft.

The game began at a high tempo and Rushall were the first to threaten when in the 9th minute a terrific run by Ben Smith down the left flank saw him pull the back to Kirk Maragh who ran through the middle on goal, but as he was forced wide right his eventual cross was headed over the bar by Mark Holdcroft from twelve yards.

However, Olympic were dealt a blow on 17 minutes as they lost defensive lynchpin Jason Dyer through injury, but fortunately there was a more than adequate replacement on the bench in the shape of player-coach Dave Read.

After continuing to probe for an opening, Rushall deservedly took the lead in the 28th minute when a corner from the right by Steve McCartan was met by Aaron Bishop, whose vicious low goal bound drive from the edge of the box was spilled by 'keeper Lunn and Kirk Maragh was on hand to rifle the ball home from six yards.

On the stroke of half time Bridgnorth finally threatened when Vaughan tried his luck with a low long range effort that 'keeper Danny Watson gathered at the foot of his left hand post.

The second period began with Olympic very much in the ascendancy and seven minutes after the restart a break down the right by Kirk Maragh saw him centre for Mark Holdcroft, but his close range snap shot was well blocked by 'keeper Lunn.

After maintaining their authority Rushall finally doubled their advantage on 57 minutes when playmaker Steve McCartan sent Mark Holdcroft clear down the right channel and as the front runner outpaced the visitors defence he cut inside and fired home into the bottom right corner of the net from just inside the box with a textbook finish.

To their credit Bridgnorth continued to plug away and they always appeared capable of upsetting the status quo on the counter attack. With the home side pushing forward for a third decisive goal in the 74th minute, a harmless looking deep ball played into the far post from the left developed a two on two situation on the edge of the Rushall box, but defender Ben Smith failed to track the run of Neville who reeled away to fire low and hard into the bottom left corner from twelve yards.

Fortunately, conceding the goal produced the desired wake up call for the home side and within two minutes of Bridgnorth grabbing themselves an unlikely lifeline, Rushall were quickly back on the offensive as Mark Holdcroft broke down the left past his marker, before progressing to the edge of the box and curling the ball deftly around the despairing dive of 'keeper Lunn and marginally wide of the right post.

With Olympic finishing the game much the stronger, with two minutes of normal time remaining another swift counter saw Mark Holdcroft advance down the left behind the visitor's rearguard before unselfishly squaring the ball for Kirk Maragh, but his strike partner could only volley wide of the target from twelve yards out.

On the stroke of full time 'keeper Lunn once again saved Bridgnorth as he somehow managed to parry away Aaron Bishop's close range low drive to safety after the midfielder had been set up by the ever dangerous Mark Holdcroft. However, the damage had already been done and Rushall now go on to meet either Stratford Town or Stourbridge in the Final at Willenhall Town's Noose Lane ground on Thursday 6th May.