Match Reports - January 2005

Rushall Olympic 0- 1 Stourbridge

Travel Factory Alliance

Saturday 29th January 2005

Rushall Olympic surrendered their proud 14 match unbeaten home league record to Stourbridge after a disappointing game that was a tale of two penalties - one missed by the home side on the stroke of half time and the other clinically converted by the visitors midway through the second period to clinch all three points.

The encounter was hardly a great advert for two sides in the top five of the Travel Factory Alliance as Rushall's attempts to play their natural attractive passing game was continually snuffed out by a more direct Stourbridge side.

Indeed, Olympic's reputedly excellent midweek display at Racing Club Warwick that rendered only a draw counted for nothing as they dropped a fifth point in the space of two games to put a question mark against their title credentials. However, the defeat was made all the more unpalatable as leaders Chasetown lost heavily at home and the opportunity to go level on points went begging.

Aiming to claim a first ever victory over Stourbridge at Dales Lane, Rushall gave a debut to former Bristol City and Forest Green Rovers front runner Matt Aubrey who had transferred during the week from Herefordshire outfit Westfields, but after a bright opening it was the visitors who quickly stamped their mark on the game in the early stages.

However, during the first half hour play generally swung from end-to-end as Olympic's Neil Kitching and Simon Truman both had long range efforts safely gathered by 'keeper Andy Higgs, while Stourbridge forced a number of corners and a free-kick that failed to trouble stopper Ryan Price.

Ten minutes prior to the interval and Rushall went the closest to taking the lead as Nick Campbell lost and then gamely won back possession on the right flank before cutting inside to fire a low 20 yard drive marginally wide of the right post.

As the home side pushed further forward in search of an opening goal, with less than a minute to go until the break Matt Aubrey cleverly spun off his marker Jon Ford before attempting to sprint clear down the right side of the box, however the Stourbridge joint player-manager proceeded to inexplicably bundle over the debutant striker from behind and the referee had no alternative but to award a penalty. From the resulting conversion attempt the usually reliable Neil Kitching stepped up to take the kick but could only send the ball relatively tamely towards the bottom left corner at an inviting altitude and 'keeper Andy Higgs still did extremely well as he guessed correctly and scooped the effort out for a corner at full stretch.

With Rushall making most of the running during the early part of the second half, on 51 minutes a good interchange of passing between Nick Campbell and Simon Truman down the right channel saw the latter advance forward and loop in a deep cross that was met by a downwards header from Matt Aubrey 12 yards out, but Andy Higgs' handling was again impeccable as he dropped to his left.

During an increasingly rare foray forward into Rushall territory in the 65th minute, the Amblecote side asserted some pressure of their own as they finally produced a worthwhile strike on target when 'keeper Ryan Price was forced to pull off an excellent point blank save to deny an Andy Wright snap shot and following the ensuing goalmouth scramble the danger was eventually cleared. Unfortunately for Olympic an assistant referee spotted an alleged infringement as Mark Bellingham took a tumble in the box during the melee and after consultation with his colleague the referee awarded a penalty kick in the visitor's favour. Predictably, the Glassboys were not about to spurn their own gilt-edged opportunity to take the lead and striker Mark Bellingham got to his feet and powered the conversion attempt into the bottom left corner, sending the Olympic custodian the wrong way.

As Rushall set about the potentially monumental task of overturning the deficit, with 11 minutes remaining Simon Truman's deep centre in from the right was met by the head of substitute Joe O'Connor 12 yards out, but with the ball heading for the bottom left corner in-form 'keeper Andy Higgs got across his goal line to safely gather at the foot of the upright.

However, as Olympic huffed and puffed their way to the final whistle, they clearly lacked the necessary guile and ruthless cutting edge to change the face of the contest at such a late stage in the game and their great opportunity to pull level with league leaders Chasetown evaporated in discouraging fashion.

Rushall Olympic: Ryan Price, Nick Campbell, Willie Dunn (Tim Jackson), Dave Davies, Ian Mitchell, Richard Brown ©, Ron Walker, Jason Lanns (Darren Goodall), Neil Kitching, Matt Aubrey (Joe O'Connor), Simon Truman. Subs not Used: Rob Holdcroft & Ben Smith.

Alvechurch 1 - 3 Rushall Olympic

Travel Factory Alliance

Saturday 22nd January 2005

Rushall Olympic overcame both the deteriorating playing conditions and an uncompromising Alvechurch outfit to claim an excellent away victory as they closed the gap on leaders Chasetown at the top of the Travel Factory Alliance table to 4 points.

The kick-off was greeted with a light but continuous fall of sleet that did little to improve an already mud enriched playing surface. Alvechurch initially adapted much the better to their home setting and they gave their guests a scare on 9 minutes when 'keeper Ryan Price instinctively saved one-handed to his right after his stand-in opposite number Keith Rostill had launched an early ball forward and a flick-on caused palpitations in Rushall's back-line as a rampaging front-runner shot powerfully goalwards from 20 yards.

As the midpoint of the first period approached Olympic were still being caught cold by Alvechurch's rapid counter-attacks as a succession of dangerous runs forward from knock-ons went unchecked. However, as the Walsall side finally began to find their feet and impose some authority on proceedings they shocked their hosts by taking the lead with arguably their first worthwhile effort on target. Midfielder Ron Walker's tenacity won possession 25 yards out and as a slide rule pass was released into the box the ball was eventually switched to the right side of the area where Willie Dunn clinically rifled home into the top right corner from 15 yards with a rising drive to record his first goal of the season.

Straight from the restart Rushall unfortunately allowed some complacency to creep into their game and within a minute of falling behind the Worcestershire side took full advantage and quickly restored parity, albeit in somewhat controversial circumstances. As the ball was launched forward into the area a goalmouth scramble ensued that resulted in a snap shot which struck the arm of midfielder Jason Lanns at point blank range who had slid in to make a timely interception. Much to the disgust of the Pic's contingent the officials adjudged that it was a deliberate hand ball and a penalty kick was awarded that was clinically dispatched into the bottom right corner by And Dodd, sending 'keeper Ryan Price the wrong way.

Relinquishing the lead clearly exasperated the visitor's and they set manfully about the task of regaining the initiative. In the 33rd minute Jason Lanns latched on to a ball from the left by Tim Jackson and unleashed a powerful drive from the edge of the box that Alvechurch's second top scorer and 'keeper for the half Keith Rostill could only take the sting out of, but as the ball dropped towards the left upright striker Neil Kitching couldn't quite react fast enough and the danger ran clear for a corner.

However, Olympic didn't have to wait long to surge back in front when 5 minutes before the interval a weak defensive header back towards the Alvechurch goal evaded the attentions of defender Colm Tiernan, who attempted to rescue the situation, and fleet footed front-runner Nick Campbell required no invitation as stole a march on his marker to take up possession and rounded the already committed custodian before having all the time in the world to roll the ball into an empty net from 8 yards.

Rushall were now firing on all cylinders and two minutes later the goal scorer was set up by a neat lay off from Willie Dunn, but on this occasion the strikers 25 yard effort was fired just over the bar.

With the diagonally sloping pitch now in their favour the Dales Lane side were quickly out of the starting blocks at the commencement of the second half and within 2 minutes of the restart livewire Nick Campbell broke down the left channel before cutting inside and seeing his drive from the edge of the box well blocked by substitute 'keeper Tony Rowe, but the front-runner could only direct his follow up effort marginally over the bar.

Olympic were now very much in the ascendancy and more good work by Nick Campbell in the 55th minute, this time down the right flank, set free Willie Dunn whose centre into the Alvechurch penalty area was headed wide of the right post by Neil Kitching from 6 yards when it appeared easier to score.

Predictably, the Lye Meadow side were no enjoying far less possession and on one of the increasingly rare occasions that they ventured meaningfully into the Pic's territory, just before the hour mark, hesitancy in the defensive ranks allowed former Rushall striker Liam O'Shea a free shot on goal from 20 yards out that flew just wide of the top right corner.

As the second period progressed to a conclusion conditions under foot deteriorated significantly as sleet continued to fall making football, on what had become a glue-pot of a pitch, a complete lottery. However, it was the visitors who ultimately stamped their authority on the game when with 4 minutes remaining they struck a decisive third goal to seal all three points. With his first touch of the game substitute Joe O'Connor knocked the ball forward to Nick Campbell on the edge of the box who instinctively flicked a cheeky back heel for his strike partner to run on to and the former England semi-professional international thrilled the visiting supporters with a sublime finish as he deftly curled the ball around the advancing stopper into the top right corner from 15 yards.

Rushall Olympic: Ryan Price, Willie Dunn, Tim Jackson (Ben Smith), Dave Davies, Ian Mitchell, Richard Brown ©, Ron Walker, Jason Lanns, Neil Kitching (Joe O'Connor), Nick Campbell, Simon Truman (Neil Barnfield). Subs: Rob Holdcroft & Steve Shaw (not used).

Rushall Olympic 3- 2 Walsall

Birmingham Senior Cup Quarter-Final

Tuesday 18th January 2005

An excellent performance by Rushall Olympic saw them march into the Semi-Finals of the Birmingham Senior Cup for the very first time after claiming a memorable 3-2 victory over a Walsall side containing several players with first team experience.

Incredibly, Rushall had stormed into a 3-0 lead by the time the game moved into the closing 15 minutes and the Saddlers only made the final score line look remotely respectable by grabbing two late goals as the home side were forced to play the final ten minutes of the game with 10-men after their two-goal hero Ben Porter was withdrawn with all three substitutes already used.

Throughout the contest Walsall looked as if they would rather have been somewhere else and Olympic clearly fancied their chances to progress further than ever before in the competition.

Indeed, the Pic's enjoyed the perfect start to proceedings after only 9 minutes when Nick Campbell set free Ben Porter with a superb defence splitting pass and the teenage striker showed maturity beyond his years as sprinted 30 yards, brushing aside a couple of robust defensive challenges on the way, before firing the ball high into the roof of the net from 12 yards past the bewildered New Zealand International 'keeper Mark Paston.

Clearly shocked by conceding such an early goal the Saddlers were forced to play second fiddle to a confident Rushall side for long periods of the first half and in the 20th minute they breathed a sigh of relief as a terrific ball in from left by Willie Dunn was picked up by Nick Campbell on the opposite flank whose low centre was rifled marginally over the bar from 12 yards by Neil Kitching.

Walsall 'keeper Mark Paston was clearly not having the best of evenings and on the half hour mark he was fortunate to get away with a clear hand ball outside his area as he ran out of his area to clear a dangerous through ball, but only the match officials failed to see the infringement.

On 36 minutes the Saddlers finally began to force their way back into the contest when a spot of pinball in the home penalty area ended with Marvin Robinsons' low drive from 20 yards eventually being repelled to safety.

Right on the stroke of half-time Marvin Robinson again caused consternation in Olympic's defensive ranks as he forced his way past two defenders and 'keeper Ryan Price did extremely well to block out a close range snap shot at his right post.

Four minutes into the second period and the visitors almost caught out the Dales Lane side as Nathan Jameson tried his luck with a speculative 30-yard drive that fizzed past the left post at ground level with the home 'keeper at full stretch.

On the hour mark Rushall finally began to rediscover their earlier rhythm as Mark Paston custodian was forced into another error when he dropped a simple catch and was fortunate to see the loose ball driven goalwards past him by Willie Dunn, but the effort struck team mate Neil Kitching on the way and deflected to safety.

In an increasingly rare foray into Olympic territory on 72 minutes the Saddlers were awarded a free-kick some 25 yards out and John Harkness's low drive was easily held by 'keeper Ryan Price down to his left.

However, Rushall had the perfect response and as the ball was worked back towards midfield through Richard Brown, Olympic's skipper strode powerfully forward and sent substitute Tyrone Barnett clear with a superb ball that clearly caught the Walsall back-line totally unawares. As the teenage striker darted forward leaving his marker in his wake he consummately buried the ball into the bottom right corner from 16 yards past the despairing dive of 'keeper Mark Paston.

Incredibly the Pic's were still far from finished and with them very much in the ascendancy in the 76th minute Willie Dunn's telling right wing cross into the danger zone was met by the head of Rob Holdcroft and as Ben Porter quickly picked up possession his progress was halted by Ryan Willetts' agricultural challenge and the referee had no alternative but to award a penalty in Rushall's favour. From the resulting kick the highly rated young striker picked himself up and clinically converted the award into the right side of the goal giving the Saddlers shell-shocked custodian little chance.

Three minutes later and Olympic's Ben Porter had the ideal opportunity to claim a memorable hat-trick but as he again raced clear of the visitors hesitant defence enthusiasm got the better of him as he rushed his shot and lofted it well wide of the left upright from 18 yards.

By this time many of the Walsall supporters who had braved the intermittently wet and blustery conditions began to stream away from Dales Lane, but those who did ultimately missed their sides' best spell of the game as superior fitness level finally told. However, although the mini revival was too little, too late from the professional side it did also coincide with Rushall being forced to go operate with only 10-men as goal scoring hero Ben Porter left the pitched injured.

The Saddlers first goal came from out of nowhere on 81 minutes when lively front runner Leroy Williams found himself in acres of space on the left and unleashed a fierce drive from 25 yards whose pace beat 'keeper Ryan Price and the ball rocketed into the top left corner.

Although this looked only a mere consolation, the outlook was very different six minutes later when Rushall quickly turned attack into defence and once again Leroy Williams was given far too much time and space down the left channel. Despite appearing to handle the initial pass he quickly got the ball under control and was able to fire home unmarked into the top left corner from 18 yards with an almost carbon copy goal that again left the home custodian well beaten.

Seven minutes previously Rushall had been coasting to a comfortable 3-0 victory, but the two goal fight back from Walsall clearly made the home side extremely jittery. Indeed, with barely a minute remaining the visitors almost snatched an unlikely equalising goal that would have forced the contest into extra time. After a highly debatable free kick had been awarded down the right channel, as the ball was played into the penalty area a scramble ensued that eventually saw Scott Dann rattle the crossbar with a header before the danger was gratefully cleared.

However, despite having to face a further 4 minutes of injury time, Olympic bravely held on to ensure that they claimed Walsall's scalp and deservedly progressed into the final four of the competition where they now face either Birmingham City, Moor Green, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Bedworth United or Redditch United.

Rushall: Ryan Price, Nick Campbell (Ben Smith), Willie Dunn, Richard Brown ©, Ian Mitchell, Rob Holdcroft, Neil Barnfield, Jason Lanns, Neil Kitching (Tyrone Barnett), Ben Porter, Simon Truman (Darren Goodall). Subs: Ron Walker & Steve Shaw (not used).

Walsall: Mark Paston, Ryan Willetts, John Harkness, Scott Dann, Theo Streete, Nathan Jameson, Bruce Wheeler, Joe Broad ©, Marvin Robinson, Leroy Williams, Graham Deakin. Subs: Sean Platt, Alex Nichols, Isameel Demontegnac, Mark Bradley, Luke Tilt (GK).

Att: 176

Rushall Olympic 3- 2 Stratford Town

Travel Factory Alliance

Saturday 15th January 2005

Rushall Olympic top scorer Neil Kitching was the nemesis of former club Stratford Town as he netted an excellent brace in a three minute spell around the quarter of an hour mark to send the Warwickshire outfit side spinning on the road to defeat at Dales Lane.

Despite their impressive opening, Rushall were caught napping from the kick-off and on 2 minutes Stratford's Stuart Eades' speculative 30 yard effort dipped wide of the left upright after the back-line had failed to make a challenge.

As the visitors continued to press home their early territorial advantage on 13 minutes Patrick Connelly found himself in space on the left side of Olympic's area and 'keeper Paul Cooke was surprised as the hooked ball looped goalwards and rattled his left post before rebounding to safety.

When Rushall finally regained their composure they worked the ball swiftly forward into the visitors half in the 14th minute where Neil Kitching beat the off-side trap to perfection before storming clear and slotting ruthlessly into the bottom left corner from 20 yards past the advancing custodian with the finish of a man truly in-form.

Within 3 minutes of opening their account, Olympic grabbed a healthy second goal cushion when the industrious Joe O'Connor was floored down the right channel by an overzealous challenge and Tim Jackson's exquisite curling left footed free-kick was deftly headed home past 'keeper Chris Gibson from 12 yards by Neil Kitching to net his fourth goal in two games.

To their immense credit Stratford continued to plug away manfully and midway through the first half danger loomed for the Dales Lane side as follow up efforts resulting from a left sided corner kick twice had to be repelled with timely interceptions.

With only a minute to go until the interval the Warwickshire side were gifted a surprise lifeline when an extremely debatable decision resulted in a dubious looking corner awarded in the visitors favour and with the Rushall contingent still arguing the toss both on and off the field of play Ashley Pringle managed to bundle the ball home into the left side of the goal.

Although Olympic were again slow out of the starting blocks at the beginning of the second period, they had the perfect remedy for their temporary malaise in the 53rd minute when they reclaimed a well deserved two-goal cushion. An intelligent ball into the edge of the Stratford area from the impressive Tim Jackson was laid off by Neil Kitching to midfielder Jason Lanns whose pin-point low drive into the bottom right corner beat the stranded Chris Gibson from 18 yards.

From that point onwards it should have been game over for the visitors, but as the hour mark approached influential midfielder Craig Woodley suddenly began to orchestrate a Stratford revival almost single handedly. On 63 minutes, with the Pic's on the offensive, Nick Campbell's in-swinging corner from the left was headed over from 10 yards by Ron Walker. However, from the resulting goal kick the ball was played deep into Rushall territory and the former Olympic playmaker breezed through a static rearguard to stroke the ball past 'keeper Paul Cooke from 8 yards with consummate ease.

Although the remaining half hour of the contest was a somewhat nervy experience for the Dales Lane faithful, Olympic spurned several good opportunities to take the game well out of Stratford's reach, but the visitors were certainly more than indebted to the heroics of their stopper for a fine display of damage limitation.

On 72 minutes Neil Kitching advanced down the left channel before cutting inside and floating in a tantalising lofted ball that deceived 'keeper Chris Gibson in flight who was forced to rapidly back-pedal and palm away the danger off the goal line.

With five minutes remaining Neil Kitching broke intelligently from the halfway line down the left flank before cutting in towards the edge of Stratford's penalty area and this time unleashed a powerful low drive that Chris Gibson did extremely well to parry past his left post for a corner kick.

In the 88th minute a good win in the air by Ron Walker saw substitute Ben Porter race clear of his defensive shackles and the Warwickshire outfits custodian again saved his colleagues as he pushed the young strikers' 18 yard drive around his near post for another corner.

Deep into injury time and with Rushall still pushing strongly for a truly decisive fourth goal the influential Nick Campbell raced clear down the right and eventually hooked the ball on to the crossbar from the edge of the box, but as Ben Porter latched on to the rebound the young forward could only fire wide of the right post from 16 yards.

Rushall Olympic: Paul Cooke, Nick Campbell, Tim Jackson, Dave Davies, Ian Mitchell, Richard Brown ©, Ron Walker, Jason Lanns (Neil Barnfield), Neil Kitching, Joe O'Connor (Willie Dunn), Simon Truman (Ben Porter). Subs not used: Rob Holdcroft & Ryan Price.

Rushall Olympic 2- 1 Oldbury United

Travel Factory Alliance

Monday 3rd January 2005

Rushall Olympic stretched their unbeaten Dales Lane record in the Travel Factory Alliance this term into 2005 with an uninspiring but nonetheless hard fought 2-1 victory over an uncompromising Oldbury United outfit.

Despite the final outcome, Oldbury spurned a good opportunity to take the lead as early as the 9th minute when a slide rule pass from the halfway line sent Seb Hamilton clear, but 'keeper Ryan Price did extremely well to narrow the angle as he advanced off his line and the striker lofted his rising drive over the bar from 16 yards.

On 14 minutes Rushall responded when a long ball from Willie Dunn was hooked forward through to Joe O'Connor, but in a one-on-one with United's Peter Sharples the seasoned striker came off second best as the stopper bravely smothered a snap shot on the edge of the area at the feet of his adversary.

Olympic finally broke the dead lock in the 20th minute with a well executed goal when Nick Campbell broke rapidly out of defence down the visitor's left and eventually played an excellent cross field pass to Willie Dunn who progressed further down the opposite flank. Upon beating his marker the wing back deftly centred to the far post where Joe O'Connor cleverly evaded his defensive shackles to headed clinically home from close range.

The opening goal was just the boost that Rushall needed and as they pressed forward in search of an extension to their lead Ron Walker's ambitious 30 yard drive was sent sailing marginally wide of the top right corner of the woodwork after the midfielder had been set up by a Neil Barnfield through ball.

However, as the first period progressed it was Oldbury who began to gain a territorial and on 33 minutes they should have punished a defensive mistake as Ian Mitchell's poor header allowed the ever dangerous Jason Barton to push on before squaring the ball to Les Palmer, but as the experienced striker advanced menacingly forward he somehow screwed his low drive wide of the right hand post from 10 yards with the goal at his mercy.

On the stroke of half time the Dales Lane side were far less fortunate as United were deservedly back on level terms when a corner from the right was played in deep where unmarked substitute Martin Keight was allowed sufficient time to get the ball under control, pick his spot and fire home into the bottom left corner through a crowded goal mouth from 15 yards.

During the second half the game became an increasingly scrappy affair as some overly lenient officiating failed to clamp down on a series of niggling fouls that ruffled a few feathers on both sides.

Despite the nature of the contest, the crucial third goal of the contest arrived in the 70th minute when a 30 yard free-kick from Olympic's Simon Truman was curled around the defensive wall, but visiting 'keeper Peter Sharples made a complete hash of a standard catch and as the ball inexplicably spilled away from his midriff substitute Ben Porter was quickest to react and rifled home the loose ball from 6 yards.

Although from that moment onwards the home side appeared in no mood to relinquish all three points, the visitors did have their moments and this was exemplified at the beginning of injury time when a 25 yard free-kick was sent into the danger zone and 'keeper Ryan Price somehow managed to tip away a goal bound close range snap shot despite lying prone on the floor.

Rushall Olympic: Ryan Price, Nick Campbell (Jackson), Willie Dunn, Dave Davies, Ian Mitchell, Richard Brown ©, Ron Walker, Jason Lanns, Neil Kitching (Porter), Joe O'Connor, Neil Barnfield (Truman). Subs: Rob Holdcroft, Ben Porter, Simon Truman, Russell Dodd, Tim Jackson.