Match Reports - February 2004

Barwell 1 - 0 Rushall Olympic

Midland Football Alliance

Saturday 28th February 2004

Rushall Olympic got exactly what they deserved from this dour encounter between two poor sides as their nine match unbeaten run came to a grinding halt in bitterly cold Leicestershire.

During the opening phase of the game the visitors briefly held the edge as they hemmed Barwell firmly in their own half. However, there was an indicator of the shape of things to come when in the 3rd minute Rob Holdcroft misjudged the bounce of a high ball punted forward and the full back lost out to striker Percival whose low shot from the edge of the box beat 'keeper Danny Watson but went wide of the right post.

With Rushall's young engine room misfiring badly under minimal pressure from the opposition and in dire need of an experienced head amongst them, Aaron Bishop's suicidal ball across the face of his own penalty area on 20 minutes was almost punished as Kyriacou's shot on the run down the left channel sailed over the bar from twenty yards.

More lackadaisical defending on 27 minutes from Olympic allowed striker Lucas a free shot on goal from the edge of the box that was heading for the top right corner, but fortunately 'keeper Danny Watson did exceptionally well to tip the ball over.

Rushall belatedly made their mark on the game in the 41st minute as Rob Holdcroft, one of his sides few shining lights, brought the ball under control and fed Neil Hesson who latched on to the pin point pass and drilled in a low first time drive from the left corner of the box that 'keeper Bowles blocked with his knees. However, the visitors foray forward was unprofitably brief and they once again had to rely heavily upon custodian Danny Watson to keep the scores level when with two minutes to go to the interval he superbly blocked Boyles' free shot from fifteen yards, that eventually ran for a corner, after the midfielder had been granted the proverbial freedom of Kirkby Road in Rushall territory.

Despite a half-time roasting from their less than impressed manager John Allen, the expected drastic improvement from the visitors never really materialised. However, within two minutes of the restart his charges did win a free-kick on the left corner of Barwell's penalty area, but Mark Holdcroft's effort toward the top right corner of the goal drifted well wide despite the flight of the ball initially beating the 'keeper.

Additionally, the Leicestershire side survived a huge let off in the 63rd minute as Mark Holdcroft's corner from the left caused chaos in the Barwell defence as Aaron Bishop's initial header came off the crossbar, as did Neil Hesson's follow up snap shot before an attempted defensive intervention did likewise, prior to 'keeper Bowles gratefully grabbing the ball under the bar.

Rushall, however, continued to be their own worst enemy thanks mainly to a combination of poor marking and an absence of a genuine midfield driving force. Eventually, they paid the ultimate price for their alarming short comings as Barwell forged into what turned out to be unassailable lead on 71 minutes. Not for the first time in the contest, Olympic needlessly gave away possession due to an unforced error and as the ball fell invitingly to the totally unmarked Percival twenty-five yards out down the left channel, he strode forward and calmly rolled the ball home past the advancing Danny Watson into the bottom right corner of the goal, despite Paul Marshall making a last ditch attempt to hook the ball clear.

With Barwell now more than happy to sit on their slender lead and break forward on the counter attack, this gave Rushall the means and motive they required to force an unlikely equaliser. Their prime opportunity arrived in the 78th minute when substitute Solomon Griffiths threaded through a sublime defence splitting pass from midfield that Neil Hesson instinctively latched on to, but after drawing the advancing 'keeper the striker inexplicably fired over the bar from just inside the right corner of the box with a veritable open goal at his mercy.

With that gilt edged opportunity went Olympic's hopes of salvaging anything from the game, but with too many of their playing contingent suffering a collective off day there was only ever going to be one winner in this turgid contest.

Bridgnorth Town 1 - 2 Rushall Olympic

Midland Football Alliance

Tuesday 10th February 2004

Rushall picked up a useful three points at Alvechurch, despite a poor second half performance.

The Pic's were cruising at 3-1 at half time but they almost threw it away with a lacklustre showing in the second period.

Greg Walters volleyed them into the lead from the edge of the box after just four minutes and then Neil Hesson doubled their advantage on 18 minutes with another good strike after a flowing move.

The hosts pulled a goal back in the 42nd minute when Ben Smith was caught out on the right. But just before half time, the Pic's restored their two goal advantage when Mark Holdcroft was bundled over in the area and Richard Brown stepped up to stroke home the penalty.

Rushall sat back in the second half and allowed Alvechurch to dominate the game.

They pulled themselves back into the game on 60 minutes with another neat finish.

Holdcroft then had a goal disallowed when he was harshly adjudged to have fouled the keeper.

The closing stages were marred by a horrendous two footed tackle by McWilliams on Jason Lands that could have caused serious damage but the Pic's player escaped unhurt.

From: Pete Athersmith

Rushall Olympic 4 - 0 Stafford Town

Midland Football Alliance

Saturday 22nd February 2004

Only the heroics of 'keeper Wayne Kennett and the woodwork prevented rock bottom Stafford Town from finishing up on the end of a proverbial cricket score beating at Dales Lane against fast improving Rushall Olympic.

The home side quickly set their stall out by deploying an attacking 3-4-3 formation and in the first four minutes of the contest striker Kirk Maragh twice found himself well into Stafford's penalty area but on both occasions couldn't quite get the ball under full control and the opportunities quickly evaporated.

As Rushall continued to impose their strangle hold on the game, in the 9th minute Mark Holdcroft progressed menacingly down the left channel before turning his marker and looping over a telling cross that Neil Hesson met with a glancing header eight yards out. Although the ball was bound for the top left corner, 'keeper Kennett did extremely well to tip the effort acrobatically over the bar for a corner.

On 18 minutes Neil Hesson returned the favour as his lay off back to Mark Holdcroft was driven goal ward from the edge of the box and was deflected away for a corner at the last second. From Mark Holdcroft's resulting right sided kick Aaron Bishop's powerful twelve yard header was initially repelled to the edge of the box where skipper Richard Brown volleyed low and hard into the bottom left corner of the goal to deservedly open his sides account.

As Olympic continued to dominate proceedings the game almost turned into a kicking in exercise and a minute after taking the lead 'keeper Kennett was once more called into action as Neil Hesson's twenty yard snap shot was well blocked and gratefully cleared to safety.

The 24th minute finally saw the visitors' first excursion into Rushall territory when Simon Dawson's ambitious long range effort skied well over the bar. However, Stafford's foray was brief and on 28 minutes good work by Mark Holdcroft and Aaron Bishop down the left flank saw the latter whip the ball into the feet of Ben Smith who had made a surging run into the box, but he only managed to drag his first time shot wide of the right post from fifteen yards. A minute later and Mark Holdcroft connected with Kirk Maragh's deep cross from the right but his spectacular low level volley from fifteen yards flew marginally wide of the right hand post.

With the visitors now struggling to even clear their lines Aaron Bishop's 33rd minute storming run from midfield saw him leave several defenders in his wake before slamming a thunderous drive on to the crossbar from twenty-five yards. However, still the danger was not cleared and when Jason Dyer found his way to the right hand goal line, 'keeper Kennett was forced to push the central defenders smart six yard drive from an acute angle to safety.

Two minutes later and Town's custodian earned more plaudits as he dived spectacular to his left to palm away Mark Holdcroft's rising fifteen yard drive for a corner kick, despite the effort having a goal written all over it with its trajectory heading straight for the top right corner of the net.

Three minutes before the interval and following more good work by the highly influential Mark Holdcroft, Rushall's Jason Lanns tried his luck with a venomous thirty yard pile driver that was turned away for another corner by Kennett. However, Stafford's luck eventually ran out on 42 minutes when Richard Brown's run down the right flank ended abruptly upon being cynically scythed down in full flight and Mark Holdcroft's stinging low free-kick from 20 yards bounced over the goal line through a sea of legs.

The half time interval seemed to do little to improve the visitors' appetite for the game and Rushall began where they had left off before the break. Within two minutes of the restart Mark Holdcroft's twenty-five yard volley cannoned frustratingly off the crossbar to safety with the Stafford custodian for once beaten all ends up.

Just before the hour mark and the woodwork was tested once again when another Mark Holdcroft free-kick, this time from the right corner of the Town penalty area, skimmed off the top of the crossbar for a goal kick.

With Rushall still very much in the ascendancy it was an ideal time for the home side to reshuffle their ranks with the timely introduction of teenage striker Solomon Griffiths for his debut. However, the 61st minute also signalled the very first time of the afternoon that Stafford found themselves near to the Rushall penalty area as they forced a corner, but the resulting kick proved harmless.

When Olympic eventually got back into their rhythm 'keeper Kennett also returned to action after a brief respite as he was forced to block Mark Holdcroft's pacey edge of the box free-kick.

As the game moved into its final stages Rushall upped the pace in a bid to extend their already comfortable lead and give the score line a more convincing appearance worthy of their overall dominance. On 82 minutes they finally made the breakthrough when a short corner on the left worked between Greg Walters and Graham Ashton ended with the ball being swung into the feet of Solomon Griffiths who displayed a goal poacher's instinct as he turned and fired into the top right corner of the net from eight yards for a debut goal.

With little more than a minute on the watch the rout was complete when a telling ball in from the right by Greg Walters was expertly flicked home by Neil Hesson from close range after an initial snap shot had been blocked during the ensuing goalmouth scramble.

Stourbridge 0 - 0 Rushall Olympic

Midland Football Alliance

Saturday 14th February 2004

Despite Rushall Olympic registering another familiar goalless draw, they turned in an excellent team performance to extend their unbeaten run to seven league games and maintain their push into the higher reaches of the Midland Football Alliance table.

With Stourbridge fielding three ex-Olympians in their starting line-up there was always going to be a bit of extra spice to this meeting of last seasons top two sides and although the home team spurned arguably the best goal scoring opportunities of the contest, it was the visitors who always held the upper hand.

The Glassboys were the first to threaten when on 11 minutes a debatable free-kick awarded on the edge of the box was driven goal wards by Leon Broadhurst and Danny Watson was forced to dive low to his left to push the effort away to safety.

The visitors always looked to have the edge during the first half exchanges, but they had to wait until the 23rd minute to register their best attempt when Jason Lanns curled a lofted free-kick into the box from forty yards out and Aaron Bishop jinked in behind the static Stourbridge defence to meet the ball with a powerful volley that cleared the crossbar by several inches.

Rushall received a blow just after the restart of the second period when they lost skipper Richard Brown through injury, however in Rob Vassell they had a ready made replacement who took on both the captains armband and the sweepers role to eventually inspire his team mates to an admirable point.

In the immediate wake of the defensive reshuffle Olympic had 'keeper Danny Watson to thank for maintaining the status quo on 52 minutes when he pulled off a superb point blank save to deny former colleague Scott Gennard with a smart parry at his left post to divert the strikers fierce snap shot for a corner.

Six minutes later and the visitors almost snatched the lead when good work by Mark Holdcroft set free strike partner Kirk Maragh who stole a march on his marker to burst through down the left channel and place his lofted twenty-five yard drive over advancing 'keeper Andy Higgs and narrowly wide of the right corner of the woodwork.

Although the Pic's continued to force the pace of the game they were always vulnerable to the counter-attack, particularly when unforced errors resulted in the breakdown of their adventurous approach play. On one such occasion they almost paid dearly as striker Rob Taylor was sent clear and his first time rising drive from the edge of the penalty area was superbly blocked by 'keeper Danny Watson who stood up well to the challenge and Rob Vassell was on hand to mop up the loose ball.

When play returned to the other end of play a swift break by Rushall in the 73rd minute allowed Mark Holdcroft to lay the ball off left to the advancing Ben Smith who whipped a first time cross into the danger area, but Aaron Bishop couldn't quite make a contact to turn the ball home.

Three minutes later and Kirk Maragh broke down the right wing before playing the ball back to Greg Walters whose deep centre to the far post was met by the head of Mark Holdcroft, but 'keeper Andy Higgs was alert to the danger and grabbed the close range effort at the second attempt.

With the game fast approaching injury time, Stourbridge made a last gasp attempt to force what would have been an unmerited winner when Scott Gennard was allowed to advance unhindered before turning sharply and firing a hard low shot from the edge of the box that Danny Watson was once more equal to as the custodian pulled off another exceptional save to push away the goal bound drive for a corner.

Bridgnorth Town 1 - 2 Rushall Olympic

Midland Football Alliance

Tuesday 10th February 2004

Rushall's young guns continued their recent run of good form at the Crown Meadow on Tuesday as another solid performance helped them climb into the top half of the table.

They had to come from behind, though, after Bridgnorth had taken the lead against the run of play on the half-hour mark. A poor back pass fell well short, letting in Stuart Loughnane to fire past Danny Watson and give the home side the lead.

However, Rushall were able to get back on level terms on the stroke of half time when Mark Holdcroft stepped up to smash home a free kick from 25 yards, giving keeper Matt Lunn no chance.

The second period was all Rushall as they went in search of an winner, with strike duo Kirk Maragh and Mark Holdcroft a constant threat to the home defence, who had to work overtime and some robust tackles to contain the pair.

Maragh had the first chance of the second half when he rattled the crossbar with a powerful header from a corner.

But Rushall sealed the win on 67 minutes when a shot by Ben Smith from well outside the box was turned home by Aaron Bishop to give the visitors a well deserved three points.

From: Pete Athersmith

Rushall Olympic 0 – 0 Oadby Town

Midland Football Alliance

Saturday 7th February 2004

Draw specialists Rushall Olympic recorded their 13th stalemate in 31 Alliance games, the eighth of which has now ended goalless. However, despite lacking that little bit of magic in front of goal that would and should have given the home side victory, the result was enough to push them into 13th place in the table and their highest ranking of the campaign so far.

The first notable opportunity of the opening period arrived for Rushall in the 19th minute when Mark Holdcroft's corner from the left fell for skipper Richard Brown whose powerful low shot from twelve yards was scooped up at the second attempt by 'keeper Damion Quailey.

As both sides became embroiled in a midfield tussle, Oadby's first threatening move of the game didn't arrive until after 36 minutes when skipper Danny Poultney cut inside from the left wing unchecked and fired in a twenty yard rising drive that cleared the crossbar by several feet.

Olympic responded two minutes later with their best effort of the first half when Mark Holdcroft set up Ben Smith whose dipping left foot volley from the edge of the visitors' box dropped barely inches over the bar.

The second half served up little better fare for the sparse wind swept crowd as the visitors opted to close their hosts down to prevent them from playing their passing game and to push up to the half way line in an attempt to play the off-side trap.

Two minutes after the restart and Oadby spurned a golden opportunity to take the lead when a cross from the left was strangely allowed to go unattended by Richard Brown, who had ample opportunity to clear the danger, and the surprised striker Curtis Warner could only direct his close range header straight at 'keeper Danny Watson.

However, as the game progressed the Leicestershire sides scalp always looked to be there for the taking and visiting 'keeper Damion Quailey was certainly the busier of the two custodians on show.

In the 69th minute Olympic's unnerving habit of turning attack into defence came to the fore as Ben Smith's run down the left channel was impeded by a blatant shove and Mark Holdcroft's resulting free-kick from the edge of the box was powered straight at the Oadby 'keeper, but as the ball was moved rapidly down field to the other end of play, Rushall were relieved when a goal bound snap shot was deflected away to safety.

As the Dales Lane side maintained the pressure upon Oadby, with seven minutes of normal time remaining another attacking run by Ben Smith into the box after some fine interpassing within the home ranks ended with a low shot to Damion Quailey's right that was parried away, but Greg Walters couldn't quite latch on to the loose ball and the chance had gone.

Rushall Olympic 3 – 2 Stratford Town

Midland Football Alliance

Tuesday 3rd February 2004

A goal five minutes from the end of normal time by substitute Neil Hesson gave Rushall Olympic a hugely deserved victory over second placed Stratford Town and at the same time put a big dent in the Warwickshire sides championship credentials.

As early as the fifteenth minute Olympic almost took the lead when Mark Holdcroft's twenty-five yard free kick whistled narrowly wide of the top right corner of the woodwork.

Rushall were well worth their 18th minute opener when good work by Kirk Maragh down the right flank saw him force a corner that Holdcroft floated in, with the ball eventually drifting out to Maragh eight yards out who brilliantly shot hard and low on the turn into the bottom left corner of the net from the acutest of angles.

Olympic’s lead lasted all of four minutes when a needless free-kick conceded down the right channel was hooked into the danger area and should arguably have been collected by ‘keeper Danny Watson, but the indecision gave Scott Darroch a free header from twelve yards that he planted firmly into the right side of goal.

Six minutes before the interval and Rushall were indebted to 'keeper Watson who was forced to tip away Pat Connolly's twelve yard effort at full stretch for a corner after Rob Vassell had failed to clear a looping cross from the right wing.

Seven minutes after the interval and it looked to be going all awry for the Dales Lane side as the normally reliable Vassell inexplicably lost possession in his own half and the visitors quickly took advantage by forcing the ball goal ward, presenting Darren Beckett with the simplest of opportunities to drive the ball home at the far post past the flat footed Watson.

To their immense credit Rushall showed they were made of much sterner stuff and within two minutes of going behind they were back on level terms as Holdcroft’s corner from the left found strike partner Maragh on the far post who rifled the ball home from ten yards giving ‘keeper Lee Keyte little chance.

In the 65th minute Stratford survived a major let off as Holdcroft’s snap shot from the edge of the box deflected vertically downwards off the crossbar and was perilously close to going over the goal line, before an attempted clearance fell invitingly to Aaron Bishop whose smart fifteen yard drive cannoned off the bar to relative safety.

On 72 minutes the visitors could hardly believe their continued good fortune when during a goal mouth scramble Holdcroft prodded the ball home from close range after ‘keeper Keyte had fumbled under pressure on the goal line. Incredibly, the assistant referee then deemed the effort to be off-side, despite Stratford’s last man being in between both the attacker and the custodian.

However, high flying Stratford’s luck eventually ran out in the 85th minute when a quick break forward by the home side saw Hesson sprint clear of his marker down the left channel before cutting inside and firing in a crisp drive that was well parried by Keyte, but the ‘keeper could do little to prevent the Rushall striker from regaining his composure and slotting the loose ball home into the bottom left corner to earn his side a memorable victory.