Rushall Olympic 2 Ossett Albion 1
Strikes of the highest quality from leading scorers Nathan Lamey and Richard Beale saw off the determined challenge of Unibond Northern Premier First Division North high-flyers Albion in the FA Trophy.
The game commenced with a strong swirling wind blowing diagonally across the pitch that made it a lottery for both sides.
It was the Yorkshire visitors who adapted better – literally.
In the ninth minute, a wind-assisted inswinging corner took a bounce just outside the six-yard box and rose straight into the top left corner of the net.
Rushall 'acclimatised' and were deservedly level two minutes prior to the interval. A deep centre from Craig Marshall on the left picked out Lee Gough, who headed back towards the edge of the penalty area.
In a flash Richard Beale advanced, unleashing a venomous first-time volley from 15 yards that rocketed into the top left corner.
With 12 minutes to go and with Olympic applying the pressure, the ball was eventually played into the feet of sub Paul Szewczyk and he laid off an intelligent pass to Lamey.
With a clinical finish befitting of his growing reputation in the Unibond League, the forward drilled home a vicious low first-time drive into the bottom left corner from 15 yards to claim his ninth goal of the term.
Rushall: Tony Breeden, Karl Johnson, Richard Beale, Niki Preston, Lee Barrow, Lee Gough, Grant Beckett, Nathan Lamey, Craig Marshall (Paul Szewczyk 68), Ian Cooper, Phil Rowe (Stuart Skidmore 89).
Ref: R Lovegrove MBE.
Att: 71.
