Rushall Olympic 2 Spalding 0

The hosts were quickly on the offensive and forced a corner within 30 seconds of the opening which came to nothing.

On six minutes, Spalding responded when Adam Jones was played into a dangerous position but the full-back's low strike was deflected for a corner.

After 14 minutes a big penalty appeal rang out, as Jarred Stevens appeared to be brought down with the target at his mercy by a defender's leg hooked around his ankle.

With Olympic continuing to enjoy by far the better of the early exchanges, it was little surprise when they went into the lead after 15 minutes, after Gary Fitzpatrick was able to drift out to the right flank and deliver a telling centre into the penalty area.

As Carl Palmer rose highest above the Tulips defence, the midfielder planted a powerful header inside the right hand post of keeper Richard Roberts from 10 yards out.

Within three minutes matters improved significantly for the Pics, as they doubled their advantage in clinical fashion.

A probing ball from Stevens sent Lee Gough racing clear down the right channel. After riding an ineffective challenge from Michael Duroe, the wing-back whipped in a dangerous cross to the far post, from where Craig Marshall drilled in an unstoppable first time drive from eight yards.

Spalding had their own shout for a spot-kick on 26 minutes, when Robbie Maddox tangled with Dave Haywood and both ended up flat on the turf.

As the midfielder attempted to scramble to his feet, he sprawled rather too spectacularly back to the ground, via an apparent hooked leg and the match officials were having none of it.

Two minutes later and Carl Palmer's terrific 20-yard run deep into the penalty area, leaving two defenders in his wake, ended with a snatched drive wide of the right post.

The home side were almost caught out on 32 minutes,when goalkeeper Tony Breeden decided to go on a 40-yard sprint off his goalline to attempt an ill-advised interception of a through ball he had little chance of meeting.

Fortunately for Breeden, defender Gary Knight was on hand to clear off the line. On 52 minutes, a mesmerising run by Palmer into Spalding's box ended with a powerful snap shot from an acute angle that Richard Roberts pushed away.

Just after the hour mark, Craig Marshall sent a venomous first time volley from the edge of the box marginally shy of the top right corner.

In the 72nd minute Marshall was sent racing clear into the area but, as the forward steadied himself for strike on goal, Nicky Hurst unceremoniously scythed him down.

After the defender was red carded for his actions, Stevens stepped up to take the penalty but Roberts came to his side's rescue once again, as he guessed correctly to keep out the spot-kick and then heroically parry follow-up effort over.