Match Reports - February 2003

Stratford Town 1-2 Rushall Olympic (Midland Football Alliance)

Tuesday 25th February 2003

Rushall piled the pressure on the leaders with an excellent all round performance and victory at fellow championship hopefuls Stratford Town.

Olympic took the game to the home side and forced a diving save from Wayne Starkey in the fourth minute to serve notice to Stratford of what was to come.

The breakthrough came in the 24th minute when a ball through the middle of the park ripped the home defence apart and Lee Booth raced clear to fire the ball under Wayne Starkey to give Rushall the lead. However, the lead lasted just seven minutes as Stratford were gifted an equaliser. A free kick was awarded to the home side right on the edge of the box and Paul O'Brien levelled.

The second half looked to be in danger as the floodlights failed and the game was held up for 25 minutes at half-time. The problem was solved and within three minutes Rushall took the lead when a five man move, started by Rob Vassell deep in his own half, ended with a Lee Booth fierce drive from just outside the box that flew into the bottom left hand corner for his second goal of the game.

The referee awarded a highly debatable penalty to the home side on 55 minutes, but 'keeper Ryan Price made a great save from Anthony Robinson's spot kick.

In the 62nd minute Wayne Thomas hit the foot of the post from close range and five minutes later Rob Vassell just failed to get a touch on a cross.

Rushall Olympic 2-1 Causeway United (Midland Football Alliance)

Saturday 22nd February 2003

Rushall Olympic returned to winning ways at Dales Lane with a hard fought victory over an uncompromising Causeway United outfit, thanks to an excellent brace from the lethal Lee Booth who struck clinically in each half to rekindle his sides title challenge.

Despite the final result, the visitors began brightly and with only five minutes on the watch striker Curtis Barnes burst past Rushall's static defence, but 'keeper Ryan Price was alert to the danger and made a superb block as he stormed off his line to narrow the angle. Five minutes later and strike partner Simon Dixon caused palpitations amongst Olympic's defensive ranks but, after creating himself some space, could only fire a venomous effort over the bar from the edge of the box.

As Rushall eventually began to settle down into some sort of rhythm, the 22nd minute saw Carl Palmer make good progress down the right flank and reach the by-line where he played in an inviting low ball straight across the face of the Causeway goal, but despite the Pic's front line bearing down nobody could make a vital contact.

The game finally sprang to life on 25 minutes when Olympic took the lead following a free kick that was awarded for Andy Mole's clumsy challenge on Lee Booth that saw both players eventually booked for their troubles due to a resulting flare up. When order was restored, Dave Evans' ensuing ball in from the right was met by Lee Booth on the half volley who spectacularly rifled home into the corner of the net with great aplomb from just inside the Causeway box.

However, Rushall's joy was rather short lived as immediately from the restart a rapid Causeway offensive involving three of the four Dales Lane old boys on display in their side saw Lea Shaw feed skipper Lee Young, who in turn played the ball forward to Danny Coates. As the wing back bore down upon goal, 'keeper Ryan Price looked to have sufficiently narrowed the angle, but his near post remained exposed and Coates' low drive from the edge of the box squirmed into the bottom left hand corner of the net.

As the first half progressed, a midfield battle ensued with both sides on the look out to gain territorial advantage, but it was the visitors who came closest taking the initiative when with a minute to got to the interval Rushall 'keeper Ryan Price again came to his colleagues rescue as he reacted quickly to race off his line and bravely save at the feet of Curtis Barnes, who had been sent clear through on goal.

The second half saw the Olympic come quickly out of the starting blocks and within a minute of the restart a terrific right wing cross by Carl Palmer was volleyed goalward by Jason Dyer from ten yards, only to see visiting 'keeper Matt Sidaway pull off a tremendous parry. From the resulting corner kick the ball eventually ran out to Steve McCartan on the edge of the Causeway box and his low first time drive cannoned off the right hand upright to safety with the custodian beaten all ends up.

As Rushall looked to step up a gear the introduction of the influential Ian Long, for his first game in nine weeks, made an almost immediate difference to the home sides cutting edge and in the 76th minute they quickly forged into the lead for a second time. An excellent defence splitting ball over the top of the Causeway rearguard was latched on to by Dave Evans who headed it cross field to the predatory Lee Booth from where Olympic's top scorer, at the first time of asking, crisply drilled his shot into the bottom left hand corner of the net from the edge of the box to give 'keeper Matt Sidaway no chance whatsoever.

Despite Olympic looking relatively comfortable for the remainder of the contest as the visitors attempted to get themselves back into the game, the only incident of note came with seven minutes remaining when 'keeper Ryan Price inexplicably failed to claim a corner kick and substitute Ross Wilson flashed the loose ball inches wide of the left hand upright from fifteen yards.

However, Rushall responded four minutes later and with Lee Booth looking to complete his hat-trick, Steve McCartan set up the striker on the edge of the Causeway area but this time his shot lacked the necessary power and accuracy to get the better of the visiting stopper.

Rushall Olympic 1-2 Oadby Town (Midland Football Alliance)

Saturday 15th February 2003

Rushall Olympic failed to do their title hopes any favours whatsoever as they endured yet another bad day at the office after taking the lead at Dales Lane and then proceeding to gift rivals Oadby Town two goals in the space of thirteen second half minutes and all three points in the process.

During the opening twenty minutes of the contest Rushall were left chasing shadows as Oadby dominated to such an extent that the home side literally struggled to gain any worthwhile possession and string more than a couple of passes together in succession. However, the only compensation was that the visitors rarely looked capable of opening their account.

When Olympic did finally begin to acclimatise to the pace and pattern of the game, the 21st minute saw Dave Evans' 25 yard low drive go narrowly wide of the upright.

Rushall's only other chance of note came just after the half hour mark when a clever ball over the top of the Oadby defence caused confusion and Lee Booth was able to stretch out a leg, but his weak shot from eight yards was easily gathered by 'keeper Andy Neilson.

Following a predictable half-time roasting, the Pic's returned to the fray for the second period in a more determined frame of mind, but within three minutes of the restart their frailties were again alarmingly exposed as a looping shot during a goalmouth scramble came off Ryan Price's right hand upright and was gratefully punted away to safety.

Just as the visitors again appeared to be taking the game by the scruff of the neck, Rushall produced a shock as they took the lead totally out of the blue. Wide man Nick Campbell set off on a run from the half way line and progressed down the left flank, where he rode a couple of challenges before reaching the by-line and cutting the ball back into the box. With Oadby's defence split asunder, man of the match prime candidate Carl Palmer, playing his first game for four weeks, timed his run to perfection as he fired home into the bottom corner of the net from twelve yards.

The opening goal appeared to give the Dales Lane side much needed confidence and they began to look more menacing on the offensive, however within fourteen minutes of them taking the lead they were caught cold as the visitors conjured up an equalising goal out of nothing. With Rushall committed on the attack a hopeful defensive clearance from the Oadby rear guard fell kindly for the unmarked Ashley Warner who raced clear and instinctively lobbed the ball from 25 yards over the head of advancing 'keeper Ryan Price, who raced off his line in an attempt to intercept the danger.

Olympic responded and in the 71st minute they had a strong penalty appeal waved away by the match official as striker Phil Bridge turned his marker in the Oadby box and was blatantly hacked down from behind by a defensive challenge as he was about to fire at goal. Two minutes later and with Rushall still pushing forward in search of a second goal, Aaron Skelding's strong run down the right was unfairly halted on the edge of the visitors area, from where Dave Evans swung in the resulting free kick and Dave Read's powerful header from ten yards was superbly saved by 'keeper Neilson at his near post.

However, Oadby were not to be denied their spoils and with twelve minutes remaining they applied the killer blow when a period of sustained pressure saw the ball played into the box where the unmarked Owen Wright was given the freedom of Dales Lane to pick his spot and fire home into the bottom corner from twelve yards.

The final result was a poor one for Rushall, aided and abetted by far too many of their players suffering an off day. With Olympic now having taken only seven points from a possible fifteen at Dales Lane since the turn of the year and a mere five points from the first four games of February, this hardly constitutes championship form and they will certainly need to improve dramatically over their final fourteen Alliance games if they are to mount and sustain a serious title challenge.

Stoke City 2-2 Rushall Olympic (Staffs Senior Cup Quarter-Final) @ Dales Lane

Stoke City Won 4-2 on penalties (No Extra Time Played)

Tuesday 11th February 2003

On an extraordinary evening of football at Dales Lane, Rushall Olympic threw away a 2-0 lead with less than twenty minutes of the game remaining and then had striker Lee Booth sent off, before eventually losing on penalties to a young Stoke City side without any extra time being played.

Rushall were easily the best team during the opening period and in the 15th minute Lee Booth cleverly slipped the ball past his marker and set free Nick Campbell, whose first time rising drive from the edge of the box was well held by Stoke 'keeper Wordsworth.

Following their shaky start the visitors were clearly shaken further in the 25th minute when they lost midfielder Swift with a suspected broken leg following an innocuous looking challenge.

With Olympic looking potent in attack, they deservedly took the lead in the 37th minute when they forced two corner kicks in succession, the second of which was delivered from the left by Dave Evans and defender Dave Read powerfully converted from 6 yards with a stooping header.

Just prior to the interval Rushall thought they were two goals to the good after Lee Booth had ran clear of the visitors defence and fired home with great aplomb from the edge of the box, thanks to a fierce drive that gave 'keeper Wordsworth no chance at all. However, the Dales Lane contingent were absolutely dumbfounded to see that an assistant referee had raised a flag for an offside decision, although an Olympic player had not been within two yards of Stoke's last man when the ball was initially played forward.

Despite their minor set back, the home side continued to play their adventurous trademark attacking football during the second period that had the Potter's firmly on the back foot for long periods. Even when the visitors did threaten the Rushall rear guard, their approach play was let down by some poor wayward finishing.

It was no surprise when Olympic finally doubled their advantage in the 70th minute as they forced a corner kick that Dave Evans once again delivered from the left and this time skipper Richard Brown towered above the Stoke defence to fire home a bullet like header into the top corner of the net.

As Rushall continued to press home their advantage, a minute later Nick Campbell tried his luck with a cheeky lofted effort from the edge of the box that went narrowly over the bar, while Steve McCartan then saw his first time 30 yard volley follow a similar path.

Unfortunately, within three minutes of Rushall going further ahead, Stoke pulled a goal back completely out of the blue when, following an injury, the referee strangely awarded a throw-in to the visitors, despite it being a Potters player who had put the ball out of play. From the fiercely disputed award a right wing cross was produced that was nodded home by the unmarked Warwick from close range.

As the Pic's continued to throw themselves passionately on to the offensive, it always looked as though the home team would still win the game at a canter, however luck was never really on their side. On 78 minutes a superb ball in from the left wing by Nick Campbell was volleyed goal ward by Lee Booth from 12 yards and 'keeper Wordsworth made an excellent blocking save, from which Danny McGhee picked up the loose ball and drove to the right by-line to cut inside and centre for substitute Eamon Hanlon, who fired over from twelve yards.

However, a series of previous substitutions appeared to have upset the general balance of their side and with full time fast approaching Stoke once again made a quick break forward down the right to produce another telling cross that on this occasion unmarked skipper Hall converted on the far post past a flat footed defence.

As feelings began to run high on the pitch, with literally only seconds remaining, Lee Booth was sent off for allegedly making contact with a Stoke defender during a flare up in the wake of a Stoke player receiving treatment following a 50:50 challenge with Olympic's Jason Dyer.

With the sound of the final whistle, both sides unusually agreed to forfeit playing a period of extra time and a penalty shoot out thus ensued where Rushall blasted their first effort over the bar and had their fourth kick saved by 'keeper Wordsworth, before Stoke went on to win 4-2 with a spot kick to spare, despite 'keeper Ryan Price bravely stopping the Potters third penalty.

All that Rushall could do was to look back on what might have been as Stoke City now meet Hednesford Town at the semi-final stage of the competition at Keys Park.

Ludlow Town 0-0 Rushall Olympic (Midland Football Alliance)

Saturday 8th February 2003

There was little to write home about from Shropshire as listless Rushall Olympic arguably paid the price for completing two games in less than 48 hours by dropping two valuable points in the title race against an uninspiring Ludlow Town outfit.

Despite the final outcome, straight from the kick off Olympic were quickly on to the offensive and in the eleventh minute good work down the right by Danny McGhee found Steve McCartan who tried his luck from fully 30 yards out with a dipping shot on the run that went narrowly wide of the upright.

Three minutes later and as Rushall remained firmly in charge of proceedings, an enticing free-kick swung in from the left by Dave Evans was carelessly dropped by 'keeper Poole, but fortunately for Ludlow the visitors front line failed to latch on to the loose ball and the danger was eventually cleared.

As the first period wore on Olympic began to rely more heavily on the long ball as the home side frustrated their guests by closing their positive attacking play down quickly, while they themselves seldom displayed the guile or ingenuity to seriously threaten the Rushall goal. On one such rare occasion when they did in the 28th minute, Olympic 'keeper Ryan Price was more than equal to the challenge as he dived to his left to push away Blakeley's 25 yard drive after Steve McCartan had lost possession in the centre of the park.

Rushall responded three minutes later when Lee Booth used some nifty footwork to lose his marker and sprint clear down the right, before cutting inside to feed Phil Bridge, but the ball was played marginally behind his strike partner and as he checked his run could only drag the effort wide of the woodwork.

During the second period the Dales Lane side continued to toil away in attack, and the positive points were the outstanding defensive display of sweeper Chris Homer and the form of rejuvenated custodian Ryan Price.

Fortunately, the introduction of Graham Ashton and debutant ex-Walsall midfielder Wayne Thomas during the final twenty minutes certainly sparked new life into Olympic's attack.

In the 79th minute good work by Wayne Thomas saw him thread the ball through to Lee Booth, who in turn found Phil Bridge in space fifteen yards from goal, but his crisp first time drive cannoned off the upright to relative safety - although Danny McGhee's ambitious 30 yard follow-up effort went narrowly wide.

As Rushall desperately pushed forward in search of a deciding goal, gaps began to appear at the back that were only partially exploited by a Ludlow side who were clearly more than happy just to grab a share of the spoils.

However, it was the Pic's who so very nearly clinched all three points three minutes from full time as Danny McGhee released substitute Jon Hanson down the right who made his way to the by-line and delivered a deep telling cross. Lee Booth met the ball at the far post, but the usually lethal striker held his head in disbelief as he only succeeded in nodding wide of the target from six yards with the goal at his mercy.

Rushall Olympic 4-1 Pelsall Villa (Midland Football Alliance)

Thursday 6th February 2003

Rushall Olympic moved back up into second place in the Alliance table as they cruised to a straightforward victory over neighbours Pelsall Villa, thanks to a brace of goals in each half.

It was little surprise when the home side eventually opened their account in the 31st minute as Lee Booth latched on to a defence splitting through ball to run clear down the right and fire powerfully home into the top right hand corner of the net from 15 yards to give 'keeper Cooke no chance at all.

Six minutes later and Olympic double their lead as Lee Booth cleverly won possession under pressure from two defenders and laid the ball off to Graham Ashton whose looping cross was expertly converted from eight yards by Danny McGhee in his first full game for the first team.

Pelsall made it more of a contest during the second period, but they went further behind on 63 minutes when Danny McGhee's throw in down the right reached Lee Booth who quickly played the ball into Phil Bridge and the debutant striker fired crisply home from six yards.

Rushall got their fourth goal in the 86th minute as substitute Eamon Hanlon released top scorer Lee Booth who ran clear of a static defence to hit a ferocious low drive past 'keeper Cooke from the edge of the box into the bottom left hand corner of the net.

As the Pic's took their foot off the pedal late on, a quick break by Pelsall saw the unmarked substitute Fowler clinically convert a left wing cross from ten yards two minutes from time to give the visitors a mere consolation.

Gresley Rovers Reserves 0-3 Rushall Olympic Reserves (ICIS Combination Reserve Division)

Saturday 1st February 2003

The "Ressies" came into this game with the cry from Ben Smith of 'Lets get back to winning ways', ringing in their ears.

They were without the services of Danny McGhee and Eamon Hanlon who were called up into the first team, and Sean Bushell down with flu. In came Simon Johnson and Neil Barnfield, with long-term sick note, Ryan McCorry and young Luke Woakes from Great Barr HNFC youth team, on the bench.

From the off Rushall put Gresley under immense pressure and on 29 minutes went 1-0 up from a free kick on the right, Iain Haywood's cross was met unchallenged by Neil Barnfield to head home from 6 yards. The midfield led by Matt Whitehouse never gave the home team any breathing space.

Rushall were awarded a penalty when Barnfield was pulled down by the keeper only for Iain Haywood's spot kick being saved.

On 44 minutes Dean Clegg made it 2-0 to Rushall.

In the second half Gresley pegged Rushall back but went three down when Luke Woakes, who had come on for Danny Mason, set Barnfield free who placed his shot across the keeper and Clegg made sure with a simple tap in.

Terry Bushell was well pleased with a solid all round team performance.

Rushall Olympic 1-1 Quorn (Midland Football Alliance)

Saturday 1st February 2003

Rushall Olympic were extremely grateful for gaining a point and not losing all three as an impressive Quorn outfit gave the Dales Lane side arguably their sternest test of the campaign so far, in a bid to make up the four point deficit that separated the sides.

Olympic opened brightly and as early as the third minute Lee Booth ran clear of the visitors defence, but under a defensive challenge from behind his weak shot from the edge of the box was easily held by 'keeper David Sharpe.

On six minutes Rushall deservedly took the lead when a quick throw in down the right by Nick Campbell was received by Lee Booth who cleverly slipped the ball past his marker and delivered a delightful cross that Graham Ashton powerfully headed home from eight yards past the wrong footed Sharpe.

As the home side continued to press home their territorial advantage, Steve McCartan's 30 yard free-kick curled toward the bottom left hand corner of the Quorn goal was pushed away at the very last second by 'keeper Sharpe. However, from that moment onward the Leicestershire outfit quickly found their feet and began to take the initiative as they pushed Olympic firmly on to the back foot.

In the eleventh minute Rushall 'keeper Ryan Price was called into action for the first time as he pulled off a superb save to deny the unmarked Karl Noble whose ferocious close range effort was turned away for a corner kick. Four minutes later and Olympic's custodian once again came to the rescue of his colleagues when, after being adjudged to have handled the ball outside his area and picking up a booking for his troubles, he initially parried away the resulting free-kick and then safely gathered Quorn's forceful follow-up effort.

As the visitor's continued to eagerly push forward by utilising the wings to great effect, it was little surprise when they eventually equalised in the 26th minute, although the goal itself certainly had a whiff of good fortune about it. Quorn forced a corner that was delivered to the unmarked Lee Dawson lurking past the far post at the edge of the eighteen yard box who quickly looped the ball straight back across the face of goal, but it swerved in mid-flight to elude Ryan Price and drop fortuitously into the back of the net.

The second period began with the visitors once again swiftly going on to the offensive and within four minutes of the restart Craig Noble's 25 yard free-kick curled narrowly wide of Ryan Price's right hand upright, although the 'keeper had the danger covered.

As Rushall retaliated on 55 minutes, a great ball by Lea Shaw out to the right flank found Graham Ashton who ran clear of the Quorn defence and delivered a fierce right footed shot on the run from 20 yards that went narrowly wide of the post.

From then on it was the Leicestershire side that almost completely controlled the game as Olympic were forced to rely almost exclusively upon the occasional counter attack to achieve some respite. However, despite enduring some intense pressure at times as fellow title chasers Quorn threw everything they had at the Rushall rearguard, the home team held out until full time with their supporters mightily relieved to hear the final whistle and to have gained a share of the spoils, when the outcome could have been far worse.