Rousing Finish By Pitmen Seen Off By Determined Pics

Rushall Olympic held on for a hard fought victory against Hednesford Town as the home side capitalised on first half defensive mistakes by a high-flying Pitmen side who will feel frustrated at not claiming a point.
Substiute Danny Quinn’s late goal forced a late surge and Rob Smith’s side besieged Rushall’s goal; twice hitting the upright and seeing both Quinn and Marvin Robinson come close to force a draw.
In a first half played with a strong cross wind and torrential rain both sides struggled to play the ball on the ground and it was Rushall who made the most of the conditions as a rapid front two of Ahmed Obeng and Marcus Jackson tested the Pitmen back three.
It was Obeng who skipped through midfield and set up Matt Lewis to open the scoring on thirteen minutes for The Pics.
Marvin Robinson raced onto a quality through ball by Jamey Osborne but scuffed his shot at Chris Gemmell before the home side doubled their advantage on forty minutes when Obeng rounded Dan Crane with ease.
The Pitmen rallied in the second period, Osborne curled a shot over and Quinn saw his shot on the turn smothered by Chris Gemmell as Hednesford went 4-3-3 to chase the game.
Quinn picked up a Jay Denny flick on to set up a frantic finish on eighty-six minutes and Chris Clements struck the upright from a curled free-kick on ninety minutes before Campion came just as close with a left footed shot which bounced wide off the foot of the post.
Rushall defended deep, marshalled by the impressive Lucian Spittle, and, despite incessant pressure the home side, just held on for three points.
Smith and Larry Chambers must use all their managerial experience to rally their Hednesford troops for an away trip to Ashton United on Saturday.
Rushall Olympic
Gemmell, Spittle, Skedgel, Tolley, Platt, Beckett (c), Blythe (Bragoli 73), Dacres, Lewis (13) (Amos 90+1), Obeng (40), Jackson (Morris 76),
Subs Not Used
Morris, Edwards, Keenan,
Hednesford Town
Crane, Monteiro, Campion (c), Shaw, Dunkley (Quinn 62 (86)), Denny, Gomes (Clarke 45), Clements, Robinson, Wellecomme, Osborne,
Subs Not Used
Haynes, Bailey, Dixon,
Bookings – Platt, Monteiro, Dunkley, Shaw, Campion, Clements
Star Man – Jamey Osborne
Attendance – 422
Words By Chris Brewerton