Rushall Olympic 4 Kidsgrove 2
Rushall Olympic bounced back from the disappointment of two consecutive defeats with an emphatic home victory against Kidsgrove Athletic.
In what turned out to be an extremely Good Friday for the Pics, all six goals arrived in the opening 45 minutes as they gained revenge for a 3-0 defeat in North Staffordshire just 72 hours earlier.
Olympic took a 10th minute lead when a ball in by Craig Marshall deflected off a defender and Gary Fitzpatrick lashed home a fine finish from 12 yards.
But the Pics' lead lasted barely two minutes, as Kidsgrove found themselves back on level terms when a hotly-disputed corner was played in from the left.
Goalkeeper David Clarke appeared to have claimed the centre, but the ball slipped out to the edge of the area and Charlie Reeves rifled home through a crowded goalmouth.
On 16 minutes Rushall went back in front when Dave Haywood's free-kick was knocked back across the face of goal, where Niki Preston made no mistake with a powerful headed finish from eight yards.
It was 3-1 two minutes later, when Jarred Stevens set up Carl Palmer to score.
After 28 minutes another free-kick led to a goal, with Marshall heading home.
A minute before the interval the visitors reduced the deficit, when Tim Sanders drove home a free-kick.
In the second half Marshall went close with a header that skimmed the bar, but chances were few and far between.
The result saw Rushall draw level on points with fifth-placed Carlton Town, who occupy the final play-off berth, although the Pics have a game in hand.
