Rushall Olympic vs Gresley Rovers
Rovers Reserves extended their unbeaten start to season to 6 games but amazingly had to come back from 2-0 down for a THIRD game running.
Mark Peters, Owen James and Jamie Barrett all played against a strong Rushall side also containing 1st team experience.
Rushall took the lead on 12 minutes from a needlessly conceded corner. The ball was floated over and went through a crowd of players before finding Danny Mathee 6 yards out and the Rushall player gleefully accepted the gift to score.
Rovers nearly equalised on 15 minutes when an excellent reverse pass from Carl Timms found Mick Leach in space and his 1st time volley was top corner bound until pushed wide by Stuart Grew in the Rushall goal. From the resultant corner Paul Grosse had a header that smacked against the post and then had strong appeals for a penalty turned down by the referee. Rushall went 2-0 up on 20 minutes after a good move on the break. They tore through the Rovers defence on the right and the ball was centred for Neil Barnfield to score from 12 yards out.
Half time saw Dan Lonergan and James Parkinson come on for Nathan Tate and Greg Smith and it was Lonergan who almost had an immediate impact when his spectacular effort flew just over on 47 minutes.
Rovers pushed more and more men forward and got the breakthrough their efforts deserved on 60 minutes when Jamie Barrett picked the ball up in his own half and powered his way through the Rushall midfield and defence before driving the ball into the corner of the net. 2 minutes later, Rovers were level when a superb ball from Matt Moran found Danny Lonergan in space and he kept his cool to tee himself up and slot under the advancing keeper into the net. Rovers were rampant now and went 3-2 up when another ball by Moran, this time a free kick, was
powered home at the far post by Skipper Paul Grosse.
Rovers looked as though they had won all 3 points until a controversial last gasp equaliser denied them. A corner was swung over and an amazing scramble followed that saw two efforts cleared off the line before Barnfield stabbed
the loose ball home. As Rushall celebrated, The Rovers defence were appealing that the initial corner had swung out of play, an appeal backed up by Rushall supporters and officials behind the goal but not by the man that counts, the linesman.
Rushall Olympic Reserves (2) 3
Gresley Rovers Reserves (0) 3
1. Brad Clarke
2. Paul Grosse (72 mins)
3. Nathan Tate
4. Jamie Barrett (60 mins)
5. Owen James
6. Mark Peters
7. Matt Moran
8. Carl Timms
9. Greg Smith
10. Mick Leach (Lonergan)
11. Earl Alexander
12. James Parkinson
14. Danny Lonergan (62 mins)
15. Danny Tyres
