Rushall Olympic: 1. Tony Breeden, 2. Lee Gough, 3. Dave Haywood (81 mins), 4. Richard Brown ©, 5. Lee Barrow, 6. Niki Preston, 7. Grant Beckett, 8. Rob Holdcroft, 9. Gary Birch (70 mins), 10. Sean Dowdall, 11. Neil Barnfield. Subs: 12. Richard Beale (81 mins), 14. Damien Charie (70 mins), 15. Matt Hawker, 16. Paul Szewczyk, 17. Chris Brindley.

Goal: Birch (pen, 5 mins)

West Bromwich Albion : 1. Luke Steele, 2. Dave Worrall, 3. Scott Mason, 4. Tony Bruce (78 mins), 5. Matt Pike, 6. Adrian Manchester, 7. Dwayne Samuels (63 mins), 8. Mohammed Saeid, 9. Steffan Morrison, 10. Ricky Nicholls, 11. Jack Compton (63 mins). Subs: 12. Sebastien Lake-Gaskin (63 mins), 13. Gavin Carlin, 14. Josh Knight (63 mins), 15. Jamal Clarke (78 mins).

Rushall Olympic got last weekends F.A. Challenge Cup disappointment out of their system with a hard fought single goal victory over a young West Bromwich Albion side at Dales Lane to progress into the Quarter-Final stage of the competition and also extend the Pics marvellous 100 % home record to nine games in the process.

The home side couldn't have wished for a better opening when after only five minutes an excellent ball played from left to right by Sean Dowdall picked out Lee Gough's barnstorming run into the right corner of Albion's box. With the wing back in full flight a visiting defender clumsily upended his opponent to send him sprawling on the ground and referee Mr. Hall had no alternative but to award a spot kick in Rushall's favour. Gary Birch subsequently stepped up to take the resulting award from the 12-yard mark and clinically dispatched the penalty into the bottom right corner, sending 'keeper Luke Steele the wrong way to net his seventh goal in ten games for Olympic.

In a first half otherwise devoid of clear cut goal scoring opportunities the sparse crowd had to wait until the 27th minute to see another worthwhile effort upon goal when Baggies central defender Adrian Manchester blazed over from the edge of the box when well placed.

On 34 minutes the visitors spurned the perfect opportunity to restore parity when Steffan Morrison latched on to the loose ball following a penalty area melee, but with a free strike at goal on offer the front runner could only poke the ball aimlessly wide of the left upright from 15 yards out. Meanwhile five minutes later and strike partner Ricky Nicholls could only look on as his ambitious 25 yard effort drifted marginally over the bar.

It took the hosts until six minutes into the second period to finally register anything like a threatening move towards Albion's goal when Neil Barnfield tenaciously won possession in a central area before sending a raking 30 yard pass into the feet of Gary Birch at the right corner of the box. However, as the forward took a touch inside his rasping low drive curled agonisingly wide of the far post.

Rushall thought they had claimed a crucial second goal on 65 minutes to put the game firmly beyond their guests when during the aftermath of a flag kick skipper Richard Brown stabbed the ball goal wards from close range., which appeared to be deflected and then rapidly followed up through a sea of legs on the goal line during an almighty goalmouth scramble. However, as a big shout went up from the vast majority of the home contingent, who clearly saw the ball cross the line by several inches, the assistant referee claimed not to have witnessed the 'goal' and the match referee waived play on.

As the cup tie progressed to an inevitable conclusion neither sides players looked likely to add their names to the score sheet, although the Baggies came closest to claiming a match changing equalising goal when a short free-kick played into the path of defender Scott Mason was thumped in from fully 30 yards out, but whistled marginally shy of the left upright.

York City : 1. Tom Evans, 2. Darren Craddock, 3. Mark Robinson, 4. Stuart Elliott, 5. David McGurk, 7. Onome Sodje (79 mins), 8. Emmanuel Panther ©, 9. Paul Brayson (77 mins), 11. Martyn Woolford, 16. Richard Brodie (60 mins), 25. Darren Kelly. Subs: 6. Daniel Parslow, 10. Craig Farrell (60 mins), 13. Josh Mimms, 17. Alex Rhodes (79 mins), 22. Nicky Wroe (77 mins).

Goals: Sodje (18,70), Farrell (78, 85, 88), Rhodes (90)

Rushall Olympic: 1. Tony Breeden, 2. Lee Gough (83 mins), 3. Richard Beale, 4. Richard Brown ©, 5. Lee Barrow, 6. Niki Preston, 7. Grant Beckett (83 mins), 8. Phil Rowe (65 mins), 9. Gary Birch 10. Sean Dowdall, 11. Neil Barnfield. Subs: 12. Rob Holdcroft (83 mins), 14. Dave Haywood (83 mins), 15. Damien Charie (65 mins), 16. Karl Johnson, 17. Paul Szewczyk.

Rushall Olympic's marvellous F.A. Challenge Cup run ended abruptly with a six goal thumping at Blue Square Premier outfit York City, where a disastrous spell from the Pics saw the village side ship five goals in the space of the final 20 minutes - including conceding a quick-fire 10 minute hat-trick from substitute Craig Farrell. All in all, it was a sad end for a Rushall side who clearly didn't perform anywhere near their fill potential, but the superior fitness of the full-time opponents ultimately told at the end of the day as the Minstermen cruised into the First Round Proper with ease.

Olympic won the toss and opted to kick towards the empty Grosvenor Road End and in all fairness gave a decent account of themselves during the first period by frustrating York for long periods and also enjoying a good deal of possession, while limiting the hosts to only a single goal.

On four minutes the Pics won a free-kick some 30 yards out, but Lee Barrow's ambitious strike was defended with ease by the home defence. City's reply came three minutes later when a 25 yard free kick at the other end had 'keeper Tony Breeden diving at full stretch towards his right hand post as the ball whistled marginally wide.

As the first period progressed York gradually began to impose their authority proceedings and on 14 minutes Rushall's custodian made an excellent claim for a deep cross that took the sting out of the attack as the home side gathered momentum. Minutes later and the Pics stopper once again earned his corn as he plucked the ball off the toe of undoubted danger man Onome Sodje at close quarters with the front runner about to pounce.

It was perhaps little surprise as the Minstermen took the lead in the 19th minute when the dangerous Sodje was given far too much time and space by Rushall's back line. After dumping Niki Preston unceremoniously on his rear end with some deft foot work, the former Charlton Athletic youngster calmly picked his spot and rifled home past Breeden from 12 yards.

Unfortunately Olympic failed to heed their previous lesson as they continued unsuccessfully to close down York's players and on 25 minutes only a great block from skipper Richard Brown on the goal line prevented the home side from doubling their advantage during the aftermath of a corner from the right.

The skilful Sodje and wide man Martyn Woolford continued to pose serious problems for the Pics, but as the interval approached Olympic began to re-find their feet and started somewhat of a fight back. Indeed, in the 38th minute Rushall were presented with arguably their best opening of the game when only an excellent block from York 'keeper Tom Evans denied Gary Birch from close range after a free-kick from the left had been headed on by Richard Beale into the path of the front runner.

Two minutes later Olympic lived dangerously when a 25 yard howitzer from City's Stuart Elliott took a deflection through a sea of legs and flicked up on to the underside of the crossbar, prior to rebounding downwards and being gratefully cleared to safety.

On 43 minutes Rushall won a free-kick some 25 yards out in a central position after Birch had been impeded, but the ball was played short to Grant Beckett who sent a hopeful 25 yard drive sailing over the top left of the woodwork.

The visitors began the second period brightly, but on 53 minutes York's main attacking outlet Sodje again left the Pics defence chasing shadows, but fortunately on this occasion the forward screwed a strike wide of the left upright from 15 yards when well placed..

Ten minutes down the line and that man Sodje was again given far too much room to manoeuvre and as he shrugged off the challenge of two defenders he could only fire low and hard past Breeden's right hand post. Moments later, as City continued to press home their territorial advantage, an almighty goal mouth scramble in front of Olympic's right post ensued before the danger was ultimately cleared.

Rushall manager Paul Holleran opted to give his side a more attacking look on 65 minutes as Phil Rowe made way for front runner Damien Charie. However, the move appeared to have back fired within five minutes when Sodje effectively wrapped up the tie with his second of the game to give the Minstermen a commanding 2-0 lead. Predictably the goal again came from the Pics apparent inability to man mark closely enough and as the forward created more than enough room for himself to cut inside he let fly from 25 yards with low drive into the bottom corner that beat Breeden at full stretch.

The second goal clearly knocked the stuffing out of the visitors with their heads dropping almost as quickly as their work rate, particularly in the midfield area where the absence of Rowe had left a gaping hole that was being fully exploited by the former Football League side.

It was all over for Rushall on 77 minutes when Craig Farrell found himself unmarked down the right channel and as the substitute picked up possession he cut in towards the right side of the area before having infinite time to pick his spot and firing a low drive across Breeden into the bottom left corner.

An increasingly disjointed and rapidly tiring Olympic side briefly rallied a couple of minutes later but Charie's long range effort from the left looped aimlessly over the home goal, more in hope than judgement. With five minutes remaining it was little surprise when York extended their lead further as Farrell was again granted time and space to fire in his second goal under the body of Rushall's shell shocked stopper, who appeared increasingly vulnerable to angled strikes from long range.

To add insult to injury Farrell then completed a remarkably rapid treble in the 88th minute when with the Pics defence now hopelessly all at sea their badly exposed custodian could do little to prevent the York substitute from firing home from the edge of the box.

With the commencement of injury time came the final nail in Rushall's F.A. Cup coffin as the final score line almost verged upon the embarrassing as this time Farrell turned provider for fellow substitute Nicky Wroe who claimed an all too easy sixth goal for the Minstermen.

Mossley AFC: 1. Ashley Connor, 2. Daryl Weston, 3. Matt Butters, 4. Martin Allison, 5. Lee Connor, 6. James Riordan, 7. Paul Quinn, 8. Paul Garvey (57 mins), 9. Gareth Hamlet, 10. Richard Conway, 11. Lee Blackshaw. Subs: 12. Mike Fish (57 mins), 14. Jon-Paul Lewis, 15. Arron Kirk, 16. Darren Royle.

Rushall Olympic: 1. Tony Breeden, 2. Richard Beale, 3. Dave Haywood, 4. Richard Brown ©, 5. Lee Barrow, 6. Niki Preston, 7. Rob Holdcroft, 8. Phil Rowe (86 mins), 9. Damien Charie, 10. Sean Dowdall, 11. Neil Barnfield. Subs: 12. Grant Beckett (86 mins), 14. Chris Brindley, 15. Lee Gough, 16. Karl Johnson, 17. Matt Hawker.

Goals: Dowdall (75 mins)

Rushall Olympic eased their way into the draw for the next round on the 3rd November with another solid all round team performance that saw them blow away their third team from the UniBond League in a week. It was Sean Dowdall who got the all-important strike fifteen minutes from time with a trademark finish from close range.

In a very tight first half chances were far and few between as both sides cancelled out each others attacking options. A great play by Rushall on the half hour saw a five man move open up the home defence but when the cross came in Quinn was able to head the ball away for a corner.

Rushall received a let off on thirty-seven minutes when Garvey drove a low ball across the face of the Rushall goal but nobody from the home side could get a touch on it and a great chance was gone.

On fifty-one minutes Tony Breeden in the visitor's goal dropped a cross but with an empty net Hamlet fired way over the crossbar from ten yards out.

Rushall stepped up a gear, but the home side failed to respond allowing the visitors to increase the pressure on the home defence. On seventy one minutes a great run through the middle of the home defence saw Neil Barnfield crash a twenty yard shot against the crossbar.

It was only a matter of time before the home defence caved in under the pressure and sure enough on seventy-five minutes a great ball by Rob Holdcroft to the tireless Damien Charie out on the right saw him race clear of the home defence before sending over a low cross were the deadly Dowdall swept home from just outside the six-yard box.

Rushall almost got a second in the dying minutes when the home 'keeper went up for a corner as play broke out Lee Barrow tried his luck from a fully fifty yards with a shot that went narrowly wide with the home stopper still in the Rushall half. However, Rushall had done enough in a very entertaining game to go into the hat for the draw on Monday.

Leek Town: Cooper, Johnson, Booth, Thomas, Brannan, Brown, Danylyk, Canning, Briscoe, O Edwards, Alexander. Subs: Hopley (for Alexander), Soboljew (for Brown), Holmes, Tickle (for Canning), Marsden.

Rushall Olympic: 1. Tony Breeden, 2. Lee Gough, 3. Dave Haywood, 4. Richard Brown ©, 5. Lee Barrow, 6. Chris Brindley (65), 7. Rob Holdcroft, 8. Phil Rowe (67), 9. Gary Birch, 10. Damien Charie, 11. Neil Barnfield. Subs: 12. Sean Dowdall, 13. Mark Gayle, 14. Richard Beale (65), 15. Grant Beckett, 16. Matt Hawker (67).

Goals: Rowe (32 mins); Hol;dcroft (39 mins); Gary Birch-pen (59 mins)

Rushall Olympic claimed their second UniBond Premier Division scalp in three days as they warmed up for their F.A. Trophy game against Mossley AFC with a demolition of Leek Town.

Rushall took the lead on thirty two minutes when Gary Birch tested Cooper in the home goal with a blistering drive from the edge of the box and Phil Rowe was on hand to smash home the rebound from fifteen yards.

On thirty nine minutes Rob Holdcroft hit a beauty from thirty yards out after being set up by a killer through ball by Gary Birch that ripped the home defence wide open.

The second half was again all Rushall as the pegged the home side well into their own half for long periods not allowing them to cross the half way line very many times. On fifty nine minutes Gary Birch was dragged to the floor in the penalty area by Booth and got up to score from the spot kick, sending the 'keeper the wrong way.

The remainder of the game saw Damien Charie, Lee Gough and Neil Barnfield all go close but it is Rushall who will play the winners of Hednesford or Rocester in the next round.

Rushall Olympic: 1. Tony Breeden, 2. Lee Gough, 3. Richard Beale, 4. Richard Brown ©, 5. Lee Barrow, 6. Niki Preston, 7. Grant Beckett, 8. Phil Rowe, 9. Gary Birch, 10. Paul Szewczyk, 11. Neil Barnfield. Subs: 12. Sean Dowdall, 14. Karl Johnson, 15. Rob Holdcroft, 16. Damien Charie, 17. Dave Haywood.

Substitutions: Dowdall for Szewczyk (41 mins), Holdcroft for Beckett (81 mins), Charie for Birch (85 mins).

Goals: Birch (7 mins), Dowdall (87 mins)

Hednesford Town : 1. Rene Gilmartin, 2. Gordon Simms, 3. Ross Adams, 4. Ashley Woolliscroft, 5. Tom Marshall ©, 6. Paul Robinson, 7. Mario Pedro, 8. Steve Palmer, 9. Ross Dyer, 10. Tom Ward, 11. Dominic Heath. Subs: 12. Tim Sanders, 14. Danny Blair, 15. David Brown, 16. Ryan Edwards, 17. Adam Fussell.

Substitutions: Edwards for Robinson (51 mins), Blair for Ward (81 mins).

Rushall Olympic marched through to the Fourth Round Qualifying stage of the F.A. Challenge Cup for the very first time in their history as they claimed the prized scalp of UniBond League Premier Division neighbours Hednesford Town by a convincing 2-0 margin at Dales Lane - extending their 100% home record in the process to eight games.

Striker Gary Birch, returning to Dales Lane from AFC Telford United after agreeing a second month of a loan deal, gave Olympic a dream start with only seven minutes gone when his initial drive was well blocked by Rene Gilmartin's reflex save, as was a follow up effort. With the danger only temporarily cleared play continued with Hednesford's Paul Robinson lying prone on the left flank requiring treatment, but the former Walsall front runner again took up possession to surge past his marker into the periphery of the penalty area, before picking his spot and rifling clinically into the bottom right corner past the despairing dive of the Pitmen's custodian.

As Hednesford responded from the shock of falling behind, on 19 minutes Tom Ward spurned the opportunity of restoring parity when a useful looking free kick was looped into the box, but the forward could only glance a header wide of the left upright when well positioned.

With the first period fast approaching its half way point the visitors increasingly began to find their feet and a 25th minute free kick forced home 'keeper Tony Breeden to come right to the edge of his area to make a high claim, only to drop the ball in the process. Fortunately for the Pics, as the Hednesford front line queued up to drive the loose ball into an unguarded net, referee Mr. Dowd awarded a free kick in Rushall's favour after spotting that the stopper had been impeded in his attempts to capture the centre.

The Pitmen continued to press for an equaliser and good work by the tricky Dominic Heath forced a corner just before the half hour mark, but once again Tony Breeden showed both determination and bravery to come off his line and take the high ball, only to be knocked to the floor in the process to claim another free kick.

On 35 minutes Gary Birch stormed through the visitors rearguard to latch on to a inviting through ball, but as the forward bore down up the Hednesford goal with only Rene Gilmartin to beat the assistant referee raised an extremely late flag to signal for a marginal off-side decision.

Rushall received a blow six minutes before the interval when they lost influential target man Paul Szewczyk with what appeared to be a reoccurrence of a knee injury and was replaced by Pics top scorer Sean Dowdall.

Olympic defender Lee Barrow almost scored a spectacular own goal in the 40th minute with a diving header that was only kept out by a brilliant full length save to the right from his goal keeper, prior to the first period being brought to a close in the fourth minute of stoppage time with the home side generally well worth their interval lead.

Four minutes following the restart Olympic breathed a sigh of relief as the skilful Mario Pedro latched on to a long ball played down the right channel before flashing a vicious drive from the edge of the area marginally shy of the top left corner.

Hednesford made a substitution on 51 minutes as Ryan Edwards replaced the injured Paul Robinson, while five minutes later the Pics Richard Beale found himself in the referee's note book following a crude challenge from behind on Mario Pedro.

Just after the hour mark and with Rushall having weathered the early storm, they went back on the offensive through Sean Dowdall who carved his way into the visitors' area and was only denied with an excellent save from the legs of Rene Gilmartin who blocked out the front runners 12 yard drive.

With twenty minutes remaining Sean Dowdall turned provider as he slipped a fine ball into the path of Neil Barnfield, but as the midfielder homed in on goal he only succeeded in firing wide of the near post when well placed.

As play moved to the other end Town's Tom Ward was cautioned for a reckless foul on Rushall stopper Tony Breeden who was upended after progressing along the by-line to shepherd the ball away from his own goal.

On 74 minutes the home side wondered just how on earth they had failed to surge into a commanding 2-0 lead when Gary Birch produced a fine centre from the right channel, but as the in rushing Richard Beale made a well timed run to the far post the wing back somehow directed his downward header into the ground and over the crossbar from 8 yards out.

Two minutes later and only another truly outstanding save from Rushall 'keeper Tony Breeden maintained his sides' slender advantage as Ashley Woolliscroft let fly with a howitzer of a 25 yard drive that the stopper tipped over the crossbar at full stretch as Hednesford pegged back the home side back in their own half.

With eight minutes remaining both sides made tactical substitutions as Hednesford's Danny Blair and Rushall's Rob Holdcroft replaced Tom Ward and Grant Beckett. However, it was Olympic who effectively booked their place in the next phase of the competition on 84 minutes when Lee Gough made his most testing run of the afternoon down the right flank, before whipping a telling centre into the near post that was met by Sean Dowdall who lashed an unstoppable drive past the flat footed Rene Gilmartin from 6 yards out.

As the game moved into the final five minutes Rushall manager Paul Holleran made his final substitution as Gary Birch departed to rapturous applause from the home contingent and was replaced by the quick footed Damien Charie. However, it was Pics Tony Breeden who was to have the final word in the second minute of stoppage time when Town's Steve Palmer unleashed a low 25 yard drive that the stopper blocked out very well indeed at full stretch to his right before ensnaring the ball at the second attempt to cap a personal man of the match display.

The final whistle was greeted with tremendous jubilation from the home support that now look eagerly forward to the Fourth Round Qualifying draw on Monday afternoon when the Blue Square Conference sides enter the competition in search of progression into the First Round Proper of the nation's favourite trophy.

Pelsall Villa: 1. Adam Jenkins, 2. Carl Ellis, 3. Sam Hawker, 4. Paul Miller, 5. Tom Baggott ©, 6. Keith Grimsleyl, 7. Ryan Mosedale, 8. Jack Rodgers, 9. Neil Grainger, 10. Michael Griffiths, 11. Lee Sherwood. Subs: 12. Juliano Costa, 14. Garry Barton, 15. Karl Webster, 16. Tom Griffiths, 17. Tom Faulkner.

Substitutions: Barton for Sherwood (65 mins), Costa for Rodgers (86 mins).

Goal: Grainger (28 and 46 mins), Miller (70 mins)

Rushall Olympic: 1. Mark Gayle, 2. Lee Gough, 3. Dave Haywood, 4. Karl Johnson, 5. Lee Barrow ©, 6. Niki Preston, 7. Chad Sheppard, 8. Rob Holdcroft, 9. Damien Charie, 10. Paul Szewczyk, 11. Matt Hawker. Subs: 12. Richard Brown, 13. Tony Breeden, 14. Chris Brindley, 15. Neil Barnfield, 16. Phil Rowe.

Substitutions: Barnfield for Hawker (68 mins), Brindley for Gough (68 mins), Rowe for Szewczyk (77 mins).

Goals: Szewczyk (35 mins)

A much changed Rushall Olympic outfit suffered an acute case of embarrassment after exiting from the Walsall Senior Cup competition to lower league opposition for the seventh time in the last eight seasons. The latest beneficiaries of the Pics increasingly woeful trophy record were near neighbours Pelsall Villa who claimed an extremely well deserved 3-1 victory at The Bush ground, despite operating two rungs below Rushall in the non-league pyramid.

With Saturday's crucial F.A. Cup tie at home to Hednesford Town a key priority, manager Paul Holleran opted to make 6 changes to his regular starting line-up. However, not for the first time this season the Pics fringe players were again found wanting upon being offered the opportunity to stake a claim for a regular first team starting role.

Olympic were quite simply out thought and out fought in every single department as far too many of their contingent appeared as though they would rather have been somewhere else instead.

Despite the final score line the visitors had more than enough opportunities in front of goal to have won the game several times over, but a combination of some inept finishing and the brilliance of Villa 'keeper Adam Jenkins ultimately led to the Pics downfall. However, nothing could be taken away from the performance of the indomitable hosts.

Rushall began brightly enough when on 16 minutes an excellent in-swinging centre from the right was met by Paul Szewczyk, but his first time drive towards the bottom left corner was somehow scooped off the line by a timely defensive clearance.

As play moved rapidly to the other end some 60 second later, only a good low block from player-coach Mark Gayle kept out a useful effort from the edge of the box.

Pelsall claimed a shock lead on 28 minutes when Rob Holdcroft was carelessly caught in possession within a dangerous area, despite having more than enough time to make the clearance. As Neil Grainger picked up the play the diminutive front runner cut in towards goal and let fly from fully 30 yards with a stunning drive that looped into the top left corner past the despairing dive of Mark Gayle.

Seven minutes later and the visitors were back on level terms when Rob Holdcroft redeemed himself for his previous misdemeanour after being released by Damien Charie down the left channel. The midfielder provided a good centre to pick out Paul Szewczyk who in one flowing movement took a touch, turned and fired into the bottom right corner from 15 yards to restore parity.

On 41 minutes only Villa 'keeper Adam Jenkins will know how he prevented a certain goal after a downwards defensive header was played into the path of Damien Charie. As the forward picked up possession and was sent wide to the left edge of the box his looping effort towards the top right corner was somehow diverted for a flag kick with a brilliant fingertip save.

The second period began in disastrous fashion for the badly misfiring visitors when straight from the restart Karl Johnson needlessly conceded a corner after being instructed by his custodian to roll the ball goalwards. From the resulting flag kick Rushall's shaky defence made a real hash of clearing the ball, allowing Neil Grainger to clinically convert his brace at the near post from close range.

As opportunities came and were spurned by the wayward visitors' front line, on the hour mark Damien Charie inexplicably prodded wide of the right post from 12 yards after being fed by Rob Holdcroft, while seven minutes later the ineffective Matt Hawker was put clean through but sent a weak strike way off target from 15 yards.

To add insult to injury Villa predictably and deservedly rounded off a memorable night for themselves on 70 minutes when yet another set piece caught the Pics increasingly disjointed defence cold. A corner delivered from the left was neither cleared or claimed and the unmarked Paul Miller 16 yards out on the far side of the area had time and space to pick his spot and lash home past the visitors shell-shocked custodian.

Rushall Olympic: 1. Tony Breeden, 2. Lee Gough, 3. Richard Beale, 4. Richard Brown ©, 5. Lee Barrow, 6. Niki Preston, 7. Grant Beckett, 8. Phil Rowe, 9. Damien Charie, 10. Paul Szewczyk, 11. Neil Barnfield. Subs: 12. Rob Holdcroft, 14. Karl Johnson, 15. Dave Haywood, 16. Chad Sheppard, 17. Matt Hawker.

Substitutions: Sheppard for Beckett (82 mins), Holdcroft for Charie (88 mins), Hawker for Szewczyk (90 mins).

Goals: Szewczyk (41 mins), Szewczyk (78 mins)

Carlton Town : 1. Steve Brearley, 2. Dominic Thomas, 3. Dave Jephson, 4. Danny Cane, 5. Mick Martin, 6. Martin Ball, 7. Fabian Smith, 8. Dean Gent, 9. Steve Chaplin, 10. Darryl Chaplin, 11. Aiden Brady. Subs: 12. Marquin Smith, 14. Grant Brindley, 15. Dominic Jones, 16. Sam Winch.

Substitutions: Winch for D.Thomas (82 mins), M.Smith for F.Smith (82 mins).

Goal: Jephson (51 mins).

Rushall Olympic's excellent run of home form continued unabated as they maintained their 100% record at Dales Lane with a seventh victory, this time by two goals to one against UniBond League Division One South outfit Carlton Town in the F.A. Trophy Preliminary Round.

Manager Paul Holleran was forced to draft the strike duo of Damien Charie and Paul Szewczyk into the starting line up after Sean Dowdall failed a fitness test and Gary Birch returned to AFC Telford United following the end of his one month loan spell.

The only highlight of a relatively poor first period was the Pics opening goal where they grabbed a crucial lead on 41 minutes when livewire front runner Damien Charie threaded a fine pass into strike partner Paul Szewczyk, who was making his full debut. In one flowing move the target man instinctively turned his marker just inside the confines of the penalty area and drilled the ball clinically past 'keeper Steve Brearley to open his account for the club.

For the start of the second period the home side endured an extremely sluggish opening that handed the initiative straight to their Nottinghamshire opponents, with most of the early danger coming down Olympic's right hand side. On several occasions the Royals were able to get behind Rushall's rearguard all too easily and it was little surprise when one such episode led directly to an equalising goal. Eight minutes following the restart a relatively harmless looking ball was picked up by Dave Jephson at the left by line from where the full back drilled in a pacey centre from the acutest of angles that took a deflection within a crowded goalmouth and ricocheted past 'keeper Tony Breeden.

Midway through the half and the home side were in uproar as they appeared to have been denied a perfectly legitimate goal that would have reclaimed the lead, following on from a free kick awarded for a foul challenge on Paul Szewczyk that itself looked to be suspiciously inside the area. As Lee Barrow set the ball down the centre back rifled in a venomous low drive towards the bottom left corner that the Carlton custodian spilled at full stretch. However, as the alert Damien Charie reacted quickest and darted in to slam the loose ball home from close range, the assistant referee raised his flag for an offside decision - despite the forward having clearly run from the Pics side of the Royals defensive line.

As play continued to move from end to end Olympic had their 'keeper Tony Breeden to thank for maintaining parity on 71 minutes when front runner Steve Chaplin was given far too much time and space to take up possession and turn before firing a 12 yard effort towards the bottom left corner. However, Rushall's stopper was equal to the challenge and pulled off a brilliant save to prevent what otherwise appeared to be a certain goal.

With the tie moving into its latter stages it was ultimately the Pics turn to cause palpitations within the visitors defensive ranks on 78 minutes when an excellent free kick from Richard Beale was curled in behind Carlton's back line, only to see Phil Rowe side foot marginally over from 10 yards on the volley.

The spurned opportunity only acted as a precursor to what was to follow when in the 79th minute Lee Gough went on a trademark surging run down the right channel that saw the wing back thrust his way past two defenders into the penalty area before pulling the ball back to Paul Szewczyk 15 yards from goal who made no mistake with a clinical finish to claim his brace.

Rushall Olympic: 1. Tony Breeden, 2. Lee Gough, 3. Richard Beale, 4. Richard Brown ©, 5. Lee Barrow, 6. Niki Preston, 7. Grant Beckett, 8. Phil Rowe, 9. Gary Birch, 10. Sean Dowdall, 11. Neil Barnfield. Subs: 12. Damien Charie, 14. Karl Johnson, 15. Paul Szewczyk, 16. Rob Holdcroft, 17. Dave Haywood.

Substitutions: Charie for Dowdall (HT), Holdcroft for Beckett (73 mins), Haywood for Gough (79 mins).

Goals: Beale (2 mins); Dowdall (40 mins); Birch (71 mins).

Bishops Cleeve: 1. Alex Hards, 2. Sam Avery, 3. Richard Mansell, 4. Ed Ward, 5. John Brough, 6. Alton Axton, 7. Jim Bayliffe, 8. Mick Rhodes, 9. Kevin Slack, 10. Luke Corbett, 11. Lee Davis. Subs: 12. Joe Tustain, 14. Dan Shatford, 15. Jamie Hammond, 17. Paul Tassell

Substitutions: Shatford for Mansell (61 mins).

Goal: Slack (15 mins)

Rushall Olympic's fine run of home form continued as they ran out 3-1 winners against fourth placed Bishops Cleeve in an entertaining contest that saw the Pic's stretch their 100% record at Dales Lane to six games - netting 15 goals in the process and conceding just 3.

The highly confident Gloucestershire outfit arrived in the West Midlands on the back of three straight league victories without shipping a single goal and their direct approach certainly caused the home side some consternation during the encounter. However, Rushall could not have wished for a better opening when within barely two minutes of the first whistle a strong run by Lee Gough forced a corner down the right flank and from the resulting flag kick Richard Beale curled a teasing centre in towards the far post that ricocheted off the woodwork and into the back of the net as the Villagers defence and custodian were caught napping.

As the visitors responded in kind on 11 minutes wing back Richard Mansell sent in a rocket of a free-kick from the right channel that whistled across the face of goal, but somehow nobody was able to make a telling connection.

The danger acted as a precursor to what was to follow as Bishops Cleeve hauled themselves back on to level terms when Lee Gough carelessly lost possession near the oppositions right by-line and as a play moved swiftly into Olympic's territory Kevin Slack was picked out making a darting run towards the left face of the box. After all too easily shrugging off the challenge of Lee Barrow the front runner picked his spot and drilled an unstoppable effort across Tony Breeden and into the bottom right corner.

With the visitors tails up Olympic admirably weathered the storm and nine minutes prior to the interval were back in front when Richard Beale got behind the Villagers defence down the left flank before darting towards the by-line and pulling the ball back into the central periphery of the penalty area where Sean Dowdall rifled a tremendous first time drive into the roof of the net, giving stopper Alex Hards little opportunity.

A minute prior to the interval the Pics were indebted to 'keeper Tony Breeden for maintaining their advantage when he pulled off a brilliant low save to parry away a venomous effort from a Bishops Cleeve attacker after a wide man had got behind Richard Beale down the right flank and centred.

Rushall were forced to reshuffle their pack during half time after Damien Charie replaced the injured Sean Dowdall as a precaution. However, as the second period progressed it was the strength and vision of fellow front runner Gary Birch that would ultimately prove to be the difference. Indeed, on 53 minutes a brilliant piece of skill from the AFC Telford United loanee saw the target man win a towering header, before peeling off his marker to pick up the loose ball down the right channel, before cutting inside and floating a beauty of an effort towards the top left corner that the visitors custodian had to push away.

With 18 minutes remaining Olympic claimed the all important third goal that effectively clinched all three points when another piece of excellence from Gary Birch followed on from Richard Beale's telling centre. As the ball was only rebuffed just outside the box, the striker took up possession and powered his way to the left corner of the area were he gathered his composure and drilled a peach of a curler into the bottom right corner past the despairing dive of 'keeper Alex Hards.

On 87 minutes the former Walsall and Lincoln City hit man almost bagged a brace after trying his luck with a cheeky chip from the edge of the box after he and Damien Charie had broken clear of the Villagers defensive shackles; however a defender cleared off the line for a flag kick.

In the second minute of stoppage Gary Birch was again sent racing clear, but on this occasion flashed a pacey curling effort wide of the top left corner from 20 yards out as the Bishops Cleeve rearguard waited in vain for an unforthcoming off-side flag.