Rushall Olympic 1 Stourbridge 2

The result moves the Glassboys up three places to 8th in the Evo-Stik League Premier Division table, still five points adrift of the play-off zone, but well-placed with games in hand on some of the clubs above them to mount a challenge in the second half of the season.

There were two changes from the team that narrowly beat Halesowen on Boxing Day, with Charlie Price returning in goal for Lewis Solly, who was suffering with the knee problem that affected him late on in Saturday’s match, while Leon Broadhurst also came back into the team for Chris Lait. Newly re-signed loanee Reece Hales, meanwhile, was on the substitute’s bench.

With the home side having the advantage of the slope and the wind, both considerable, in the first half, it was they who looked to establish control early on. And they were rewarded for their positive start with a goal in the sixth minute when ex-Glassboy Luke Benbow got away down the right flank and crossed low for Malachi Lavelle-Moore to slide home from close range.

Having fallen behind at a similar point against Halesowen, Stourbridge at least had the comfort of knowing they could recover from the blow, but they took a while to find their way into the game, as the Pics continued to have the better of things. Justin Richards did fire a rare effort on goal wide for the Glassboys, whilst at the other end Jake Heath and Kris Taylor likewise failed to trouble Price with shots off-target.

A little against the general run of the game, though, Stourbridge drew level on 24 minutes with their best move of the game leading to Karl Hawley beating two defenders out on the right before crossing for Junior Smikle to net his first of the season from close range.

Boosted by the equaliser, the Glassboys pushed forward, but it was again Rushall who were to come closest to scoring before the interval as Dan Scarr involuntarily forced a save out of Price, and Smikle was in the right spot to clear Michael Townsend’s header off the line from the resulting corner.

Happy to be an even terms at the break, Stourbridge looked to press as the second period got under way, keeping possession with more assurance, and looking to get the lively Matt Dodd into the game wherever possible. And it was Dodd’s ball in from the right on 64 minutes that allowed Hawley to hold off his man before slipping a pass to Richards, looking perhaps marginally offside, who slammed the ball into the roof of the net – a reward for the striker’s fine work throughout the afternoon.

Leon Broadhurst fired just wide on the volley from 25 yards shortly afterwards as the visitors strived to put daylight between themselves and the hosts, whilst Hawley’s header late on brought a routine save out of Dean Coleman.

Rushall, meanwhile, rarely threatened Price’s goal, as the Glassboys saw the game out to ensure a six-point haul from the Festive period.

Brief highlights of the game, courtesy of ROFCTV, can be viewed at the following link:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ylfWflxnSRs