RUSHALL OLYMPIC 2 - 2 SOHAM TOWN RANGERS

Today I am looking to see some FA Cup action. The weather is not at all promising though and my first choice of the game at Westfields in Hereford looks likely to have rain all afternoon. I plump for the tie at Rushall Olympic as I know that they have shelter on all sides of their ground plus it's likelier to have less rainfall.

I have no travel problems getting to Walsall by train and then take the bus which drops me off just outside the ground.

After entering the ground I make straight for the club shop to buy a club badge to add to my burgeoning collection. Also I donate them a pile of my old programmes as I know they take them.

The rain had stopped by the time I had got to Walsall and it looks as if it will keep away for some time although the sun looks unlikely to make an appearance today.

Rushall is a former mining village and the team have have been established in the Northern Premier League for a number of years now. They have made a good start to their league campaign and lie in a useful fifth place after 6 games.

While waiting for the game to start I talk to a guy who is making his first visit to the ground for the first time in 7 years! He's a Walsall supporter who fancied going to a local game as his team are without a game today. He tells me he is a retired teacher who still does tuition and he used to be the programme editor at Tividale and the now defunct Halesowen Harriers. He is shocked at the small crowd today although I didn't think 'The Pics' have a particularly big following.

Soon the teams come on to the field with Rushall in their black and yellow kit and the visitors from Cambridgeshire in green and white striped shirts. As Rushall play at a level above Soham, I make them to be the favourites today but as it's the Cup those considerations go out of the window as it's the 'underdogs' who are pressing back their opponents.

After only 9 minutes Soham's lively No.9 debutant, Victor Adeboyejo, has rounded keeper Jose Veiga but has his shot cleared off the line by No.5 Henry Eze.

Soham have 2 more chances before their No.7, Darren Foxley, puts them in front. 

Although Rushall are trying to get back in to the game, it is Soham who are causing all the problems. They are rewarded for their continued dominance when Adeboyejo flicks in a header from a free kick over the arms of Rushall keeper Jose Veiga.

Seven minutes later though, the home side reduce the deficit when after a run down the left by the dangerous Alex Reid he crosses the ball for the incoming Jordan Fitzpatrick to fire in from close range.

                   (Olympic's Alex Reid on his way to creating his side's 1st goal)

The hosts are back in the game but Adeboyejo reminds them of his presence when before the interval he rattles the bar with a powerful cross shot.

I'd had my doubts about venturing out today but I am being rewarded for my efforts with a blood and thunder style cup tie!

The dangerous Adeboyejo has gone off injured and Ryan Sharman replaces him for the second period and he goes close to scoring but is foiled by Veiga diving at his feet to take the ball.

Alex Reid attacks dangerously down the left after 60 minutes runs past Bogard the Soham keeper but loses control of the ball and it runs overs the line.

'The Greens' miss a good chance of a 3rd goal when their No.11, Relizani fires over at the far post from a cross played in from the left.

                            (Rushall's Henry Eze rises to clear a Soham attack) 

After 73 minutes, Bogard saves at the feet of Fitzpatrick as the pressure from Rushall grows.

The Soham keeper is forced to hurriedly punch out the ball from another attack to the waiting substitute McKenzie but his first time shot sails over the bar.

It's another substitute, Stan Mugisha who finally scores the equaliser in the 88th minute, when following a long throw from the left he crashes in a shot which bounces over the line via the under side of the bar.

The ref says that we have 4 minutes of injury time but neither side is able to get the winning goal.

The winners will face Kettering Town at home in the next round and after collecting £3,000.

I have been impressed by Soham today especially in the first half with a display belying their lowly league place in the Isthmian League, Div 1 South. Rushall although decidedly out of sorts for the first 30 minutes have come back strongly and will not be easily beaten the second time round.

Match attendance: 161
Match entrance fee: £9
Match programme: £2
Match entertainment: 8/10

RUSHALL SINK 'THE COASTERS' WITH WIN AT DALES LANE

This Saturday I am making my way to the Northern Premier League top 5 clash between Rushall Olympic and AFC Fylde from Lancashire. Both teams are looking to make the League play-offs in a few weeks time.

This will be the second time I have visited this ground, as near the end of last season I saw Rushall's tenants, Continental Star, beat Pershore prior to clinching the Midland Combination Premier League title. Also it was a happy occasion for me as one of my photos from that game was selected as the cover photo for the current edition of 'The Non-League Club Directory'.

Both of these clubs have made very good progress up 'The Pyramid' over the last 12 years, especially Fylde as only 5 years ago they were lifting the FA Vase, in their previous incarnation of 'Kirkham & Wesham FC'.

When I arrive in Walsall, an already cloudy day becomes greyer and it starts to drizzle. Not good photography weather, well certainly not for my camera/lens set up.I board the No.997 bus from Walsall Bus Station and soon am getting off the bus at the stop opposite the ground.

It's an entrance fee of £7:50p, cheaper than expected and the programme £2. I must say the Rushall programme is very good value, packed with information about the Evo-Stik Northern leagues and various cup competitions like the Staffordshire Senior, Birmingham Senior and Doodson League Cup. Well done to the editor Darren Stockall!

Fylde have brought down about 50-70 fans with them and I park myself under the cover of the stand at the southern end of the ground where they congregate when they see that their team are kicking towards that goal. Rushall are in their gold and black kit while Fylde are resplendent in all white.

     
The game is played at quite a pace with both teams anxious to get forward as quickly as possible. A bit too Route One for me at times but there is no disputing that they both mean business.

(Here the Rushall No.2 is given a helping hand by physio, Emma Archer)

It's a pretty even first-half with not many clear-cut chances. The Fylde fans are sure that their team should be awarded a penalty when their player, Harry Winter is brought down after a rash challenge but it's deemed to be outside the area and Fylde shoot over the bar from the free-kick. However Rushall take the lead 5 minutes before the interval when Obeng fires in a well taken goal.

During half-time I venture in to the Club Shop and find a very good selection of Football League and Non-League programmes. When talking to the guy who runs the shop I find that we both attended the same Sutton United (Sutton Coldfield) game the previous Saturday. It's a small world!

I go back to the southern end of the ground as it is still drizzling and soon Rushall Olympic are on the attack. Although I was not greatly impressed by the standard of play in the first-half, I begin to admire Rushall's efforts in the second period. With their combative midfield, the pace of Ahmed Obeng plus the guile and work-rate of top scorer, Dave Walker, Rushall are stringing together some probing attacks. Although Rushall dominate most of this half Fylde are still dangerous on the break.

 (Here the dangerous Obeng whips in a shot that grazes the Fylde cross-bar)

Rushall's efforts are well appreciated by their fans and they duly get their reward a few minutes before the end when Lindon Dovey scores their second and decisive goal.

So a great result for 'The Pics' which pushes them up from sixth to fifth and sees AFC Fylde drop from fourth to sixth but with 2 games in hand over Rushall with 2 points separating them. They could be playing each other in the play-offs soon!

In the end I was impressed by Rushall Olympic and today's performance was a great improvement to when I saw them lose 1-3 in the FA Cup to Bridgnorth Town earlier in the season.