Match Reports - March 2004

Bridgnorth Town 0 - 0 Rushall Olympic

Polymac Services League Cup Semi-Final 1st Leg

Tuesday 30th March 2004

Rushall Olympic will go into next weeks 2nd leg of the League Cup Semi-Final tie with supreme confidence in their ability to progress through to the final for the second time in three seasons after rarely being troubled by a one dimensional Bridgnorth Town outfit.

However, not for the first time this season Rushall were involved in a game that was heavily influenced by over zealous refereeing and the end result was the incredulous dismissal of teenage striker Solomon Griffiths with seven minutes remaining.

Olympic began brightly and as early as the 5th minute the impressive Marshall made his way down the right flank before centring for Maragh who scooped the ball over from ten yards with a first time effort.

On eighteen minutes Marshall was again the provider as his goal bound deep cross to the far post had to be tipped over for a corner by extremely hesitant 'keeper Lunn who ended up with his back to the upright.

A defensive comedy of errors almost cost the visitors dear just after the half hour mark as Dyer collided heavily with colleague Marshall in an attempt to clear their lines, but as the ball eventually fell to gangly striker McCormick he somehow managed to slice his shot well wide from the edge of the box with a virtual open goal at his mercy.

With Bridgnorth finishing the half slightly the stronger a quick break forward exposed Rushall's defensive frailties and 'keeper Watson was called upon to make a one handed save to parry Line's shot on the run from the edge of the box to safety.

The visitors emerged for the second period much the better for a perceived half-time roasting by Olympic's manager as they went on to take full advantage of the Crown Meadow slope.

McCartan's attempted volley from thirty yards out flew straight down the throat of 'keeper Lunn after the midfielder had latched on to a weak 67th minute defensive clearance.

Five minutes later and "Man of the Match" Bishop also tried his luck with a vicious low long range strike that zipped inches shy of the right hand post with the home 'keeper well beaten.

As Rushall continued to press home their territorial advantage, in the 75th minute Bishop once again caused palpitations in the Bridgnorth rearguard as his twenty yard drive went narrowly wide of the right hand upright.

However, controversy reigned on eighty three minutes when a high ball punted towards the home penalty area was chased through by Griffiths and as he jumped with 'keeper Lunn the striker leaped the highest to head the ball just wide of the post from the edge of the box. However, the custodian incredibly appealed that a hand ball offence had been committed by Olympic's front runner and the referee couldn't retrieve a second yellow card and a following red one quickly enough from his top pocket to infuriate the visiting contingent and bemuse even the most ardent of Bridgnorth supporters.

With stoppage time just beginning, an inspired substitution almost snatched a valuable winner for Rushall as defender Read took up a strikers role and with his first touch of the game his powerful header from McCartan's corner kick ricocheted off the cross bar for a goal kick and Bridgnorth breathed a huge sigh of relief.

Rushall Olympic 0 - 2 Stafford Rangers

Staffordshire Senior Cup Semi-Final

Tuesday 23rd March 2004

Rushall Olympic are considering making a formal complaint to the Football Association after Tuesday's semi-final was marred by crowd problems.

Some Pic's players had to be separated from Stafford fans at full time after a scuffle broke out following alleged inflammatory comments made by the visiting spectators.

The flare-up was quickly brought under control but the incident was an unsatisfactory end to what had been a good game, despite the fact that Rushall missed out on a place in the final.

"It was nothing to do with Stafford Rangers, just one or two idiot fans who kept making unsavoury remarks," explained Rushall Olympic secretary Pete Athersmith.

"We're considering making a formal complaint to the FA, though, and I'll be writing to Stafford to tell them of our disappointment at the behaviour of some of their fans. We get on well with Stafford and that kind of behaviour doesn't reflect too well on them."

As for the match itself, Rushall proved to be more than a match for their Dr Martens Premier Division rivals, who were made to work hard for their progress.

Stafford were the sharper of the two teams, with their first goal coming after 18 minutes when a string of four passes went unchallenged and Craig Wilding drove low into the bottom right hand corner.

A game of goalmouth ping pong then allowed Craig Lovatt to bag Rangers' second nine minutes into the second half.

Rangers now go on to play Kidsgrove Athletic in the final, but Rushall still have the chance to end their season with some silverware. They are also in the semi-finals of the League Cup, with the first leg taking place at Bridgnorth on Tuesday; kick off 7.45pm.

Report Courtesy of: The Walsall Advertiser

Rushall Olympic U-16's 4 - 2 Pelsall Villa U16's

Walsall Junior Youth League U-16's Divison 2

Sunday 14th March 2004

The match started with Pelsall having the better of the first 20 minutes. During that time in the 5th minute the hosts defence were caught napping, the ball was sent into the box and bounced around until it broke for a well positioned Broadbent on the back post who took his chance well and headed into an empty net.

Rushall were still struggling to get a grip on the game but in the 10th minute "Man of the Match" Billingham put in a nice chip for Ellis to run on to. Ellis took the ball almost onto the gaol line before cutting it back for Turton to fire home from 6 yards out high into the roof of the net.

With Rushall now taking control of the game there came attack after attack, with Billingham being instrumental in creating chances. In the 38th minute Rushall won a corner, which was driven low towards the near post. Maylin flicked the ball up into the path of Michael Phillips, who curled his foot around the ball and fired home from 3 yards out. Half-time 2-1.

In the 48th minute Bailey was replaced by Dwain Phillips, who asserted his authority on the game with his first challenge, a perfectly timed slide tackle which sent his opponent sprawling to the ground.

In the 51st minute and after a great chip in by Ellis, Newton, who was through on goal, was brought down in the area. With the resulting penalty, Newton sent the keeper the wrong way to make it 3-1.

In the 59th minute after some good work by Rushall the ball was put over the top of the hosts defence and into no mans land. Broadbent was again on the chase and with the Rushall 'keeper out of his area the only thing he could do was to make a challenge. Broadbent got the better of the challenge and went on to score from an acute angle. This livened Rushall up and they enjoyed the best of the last quarter of the game.

In the 2nd minute of injury time, Woolley met a ball deep in his own half, and went on a run; he took on two players before sliding a ball through to Newton who beat two more players and into the area. The 'keeper came for it and Newton pulled the ball back across goal for his strike partner Turton to side foot home into an empty net for his second and Rushall's fourth.

That was to be the last action in the game with the final whistle going shortly after the ball was back in play.

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

Reporter: Mac Moon-Taylor

Rocester 6 - 0 Rushall Olympic

Midland Football Alliance

Saturday 13th March 2004

Rushall Olympic were, for want of a better description, comprehensively embarrassed by league leaders Rocester as they crashed to their heaviest ever Midland Football Alliance defeat, aided and abetted by a truly awful performance that made their hosts look like a team of world beaters.

Despite the disastrous final outcome the visitors enjoyed a bright start, but their early optimism was shattered in the 10th minute when Rocester took the lead against the run of play. With their first worthwhile attack of the game the hosts quickly countered down the right flank through Millward who pulled the ball back from the goal line to Mitchell and the striker rifled home first time from fifteen yards into the bottom left corner of the net to give 'keeper Gemmell little chance.

The remainder of the first period saw comparatively leaden footed Rushall increasingly outfoxed by their fleet of foot rivals as a growing inability to clear their lines, mark opponents or even string a series of passes together, let alone test the home 'keeper, began to take its toll.

With Olympic still arguing the toss over a 44th minute booking for one of their contingent, they went further behind when Rocester were given ample time and space to progress unhindered down the left channel and provide a perfect ball for the unmarked McMahon, lurking on the right side of the box, who drilled home into the bottom left corner of the net with consummate ease.

As if being two goals down at the interval was not bad enough for the travelling supporters, they were blissfully unaware that a four-star stinker of a second half display was about to be played out before them as their side shipped four sloppy goals in a devastating twenty minute spell.

The shape of things to come arrived eight minutes into the second period when Rushall 'keeper Gemmell pulled off a diving saving to his left to parry Berks' twenty-five yard effort to safety after his colleagues lack of marking left the stopper totally exposed.

The floodgates eventually opened in the 57th minute when a corner from the right was swung in to the near post, but nobody bothered to pick up the run of Berks who darted in to deftly head home from eight yards for an easy third goal.

Goal number four arrived two minutes later when the Rushall rearguard lost possession on the halfway line in a comedy of errors and play swiftly moved down the right channel before a pin point cross into the penalty area picked out the unmarked McMahon, who had made a late run, and the league's top scorer clinically converted from fifteen yards past 'keeper Gemmell.

At that point Olympic's manager had finally seen enough and made a triple substitution with Walters, Smith and Hesson replacing Lanns, McCartan and Maragh. However, the change in personnel failed to begin to right the wrongs or even stem the tide and on sixty nine minutes McMahon completed his hat-trick as he beat the feeble off-side trap with ease to advance forward and expertly lob 'keeper Gemmell from fully thirty yards.

Just as the disbelieving travelling support thought that their day couldn't get any worse - it did, as Rocester added a crowning sixth goal to send Rushall back home to Walsall well and truly shamed. With Olympic's defence once again conspicuous by their absence, the Romans made rapid progress down the left flank, but when the danger was only half cleared, the ball fell straight to left back Bostock who rifled home into the top left corner with a powerful shot on the run from thirty yards past the totally shell-shocked Gemmell.

In the aftermath of this catastrophic capitulation, serious questions need to be asked of the Rushall squad, particularly of whether the current crop have the necessary qualities to play for the club. On the evidence of this performance they certainly don't.

Hednesford Town 0 - 2 Rushall Olympic

Staffordshire Senior Cup Quarter-Final

Wednesday 10th March 2004

Rushall Olympic reached the Semi-Final stage of the Staffordshire Senior Cup for only the second time in their history at the expense of Dr Martens League Premier Division outfit Hednesford Town at Keys Park.

Although the Pitmen fielded a weakened side, Rushall were well worth their victory as they stunned their higher league opponents with two goals in the final two minutes of the game just as the home side appeared to be content to play the game out for a replay.

Olympic opened brightly and they almost took the lead in the 11th minute when good work by Ben Smith down the left flank saw him feed Kirk Maragh, but his low shot from the corner of the box flashed across the face of goal for a goal kick.

The visitors had the ball in the back of net on the half hour mark as a superb deep cross from the ever industrious Matt White down the left looped into the danger area, but as Kirk Maragh jumped up with 'keeper Paul Evans to nod the ball home the referee adjudged that an infringement had take place.

During the first period, Rushall's central defensive trio of Jason Dyer, Dave Read and skipper Richard Brown had kept a tight leash upon live-wire front runners Nathan Lamey and Damien Charie. However, on the one occasion when they did break free on 31 minutes, stand-in reserve team 'keeper Chris Gemmell was forced to bravely block a vicious Steve Brannan snap shot and Damien Charie's follow-up, despite good defensive work by Matt White.

Two minutes prior to the interval and Hednesford 'keeper Evans saved his colleagues as he parried Dave Read's long range goal bound blockbuster at his left hand post, but fortunately for the home side nobody was on hand to latch on to the loose ball.

The second period saw The Pitmen strive to up their tempo, but it was always the visitors who looked more likely to take the initiative.

In the 71st minute Matt White ran on to Mark Holdcroft's through ball down the left, but the youngster delayed his shot from the edge of the box and the effort dragged wide of the right hand post.

With the home support beginning to leave Keys Park thinking that their team had done enough to earn a replay, Olympic had a big surprise in store for their hosts when with a minute to go Steve McCartan skillfully slipped past his marker down the left flank before delivering a superbly weighted deep cross to Jason Lanns. The midfielder's initial shot was blocked, but his follow up drive was rifled home into the bottom right corner of the net from twelve yards.

Straight from the restart the visibly shaken hosts were quickly back on the defensive and as the ball was played swiftly into the home penalty area full back Alex Gibson, under minimal pressure, inexplicably sliced the ball past the unsuspecting 'keeper Paul Evans into his own goal to complete a miserable night for Hednesford Town.

Rushall Olympic 2 - 0 Biddulph Victoria

Midland Football Alliance

Saturday 6th March 2004

Second half strikes from defensive linchpins Dave Read and Richard Brown earned ten-man Rushall Olympic a well deserved victory over Biddulph Victoria in a game marred by over zealous refereeing.

During the first period Rushall were far more adventurous going forward than their North Staffordshire rivals, but it was home 'keeper Danny Watson who turned out to be the busiest custodian on display.

In the 13th minute Biddulph forced a corner down the left channel and the resulting kick was swung into the danger area which forced the Pic's stopper to push the ball away at full stretch to repel the threat.

Olympic responded on 17 minutes when a long ball was played out of defence down the left to Mark Holdcroft whose lay off back to Rob Vassell was accurately centred at the first time of asking and Kirk Maragh's powerful header from twelve yards rocketed marginally over the bar.

Another corner from the visitors in the 35th minute this time from the right again caused more palpitations in the home defensive ranks as the ball eventually dropped shy of the left upright for another corner after taking a last minute deflection.

Rushall began the second period in sparkling form and within ten minutes of the restart they had taken a thoroughly deserved lead after Mark Holdcroft was impeded twenty-five yards out and Dave Read celebrated his 33rd birthday in style by drilling the resulting free kick around the defensive wall and into the bottom right corner of the net with a vicious left footed drive.

However, Biddulph were quickest out of the starting blocks straight from the restart when the Dales Lane side had 'keeper Danny Watson to thank as he maintained his sides lead with a brave save at the feet of an unmarked Biddulph front runner who had latched on to a loose ball in the box.

With Olympic continuing to probe for an extension to their lead a 58th minute corner was cleared by Biddulph but the ball sat up nicely for Steve McCartan whose sweet first time volley from just outside the box flew straight down the throat of 'keeper Intihar who gathered safely.

Two minutes later and Richard Brown's pin-point free kick from in his own half was played directly to the feet of the unmarked Mark Holdcroft twenty yards out who with his back to goal turned and volleyed the ball goal ward in one swift elegant movement, but the effort looped narrowly wide of the left post.

However, it was only a matter of time before Olympic finally extended their advantage as the Vic's rearguard began to creak under the sustained pressure. On 64 minutes the crucial moment finally arrived when Mark Holdcroft's corner from the right was headed powerfully home at the far post by skipper Richard Brown who had rose majestically above his marker.

Unfortunately, Rushall were forced to play the final 17 minutes of the game with ten men when midfielder Jason Lanns absurdly picked up a second booking and his marching orders for merely questioning the referees decision, to go along with a further four cautions the match official had already dished out to the home sides contingent in a well fought contest that didn't even feature a single bad tackle.

ALL PICTURES COURTESY OF MELVIN WINGFIELD

Rushall Olympic 2 - 1 Grosvenor Park

Polymac Service League Challenge Cup Quarter-Final

Tuesday 2nd March 2004

Rushall Olympic progressed into the Semi-Final stage of the Polymac Services League Challenge Cup thanks to a narrow but deserved victory over neighbours Grosvenor Park at Dales Lane.

Olympic dominated the first period and almost took the lead on 25 minutes when great work between Steve McCartan and Mark Holdcroft with an exhibition of one touch passing set free Kirk Maragh down the right channel who ran on to fire a vicious low drive narrowly wide of the left upright from the edge of the box.

In the 28th minute Rushall deservedly took the lead when from just inside Grosvenor Park's area Steve McCartan played a delightful ball over the top of the defence from the left flank that Kirk Maragh instinctively latched on to and sprinted clear before drilling the ball home from fifteen yards into the bottom left corner of the net.

The home side almost doubled their lead five minutes before the interval when a well timed ball from Mark Holdcroft dropped invitingly over the visitors' rear guard, but strike partner Kirk Maragh reacted too quickly and hurriedly hit a first time volley from the edge of the box that flew over the bar. However, as play moved rapidly to the other end of the pitch, Olympic suffered a let off when only a reflex save from 'keeper Danny Watson prevented Grosvenor Park from equalising as a goal bound snap shot from the edge of the box was parried over the bar for a corner.

The second period saw the spirited visitors enjoy far more possession, but they went further behind in the 59th minute when a good ball through midfield from Paul Marshall sent Mark Holdcroft clear of his marker before the striker advanced forward and clinically slotted home into the bottom left corner of the net from fifteen yards.

To their credit Grosvenor Park never gave up and the Dales Lane side were forced to face a nervy final eleven minutes when a corner taken by Wayne Phillips from the right looped over to the far post and the ball somehow dropped straight into the net. However, the home side hung on to claim a place in the final four of the competition they last won two years ago.