Halesowen Town 2 Rushall Olympic 0 - Report and pictures

The much needed win brought a sense of relief for Halesowen to add to the breaking news of an imminent club takeover.

But the Pics had the better of the early chances with a first minute shot from Dan Waldron and Andre Landell going close in front of goal. Ex-Yeltz defender Joe Hull then headed a corner wide and Simone Maye curled wide from the edge of the area after 12 minutes.

Halesowen's Jordan Goddard went mightily close when his 25 yard shot was tipped over the bar by Rushall's on-loan Port Vale goalkeeper Joe Slinn after 14 minutes.

The Yeltz worked another good chance in the 31st minute when Myles Arnold was put through and he created space, only for Slinn to make a great save by turning the fierce shot away for a corner.

The game's major flashpoint came after 40 minutes when Pics forward Richard Brodie tussled with Yeltz manager John Hill and his assistant Matt Clarke then became involved before a mass brawl broke out. After the situation settled, John Hill was sent from the dug-out and Brodie was also red-carded, reducing Rushall to ten men.

Halesowen soon took advantage by taking the lead in the first minute of the second half when a 25 yard shot from Goddard was only pushed away by goalkeeper Slinn and Lee Knight was on hand to convert the rebound on his Yeltz debut.

Platt made a fine one-handed 51st minute save low down from Waldron down the left to keep the lead intact before the home side went close again as Asa Charlton's fine right-wing cross just evaded Jack Kelly at the far post.

Rushall proceeded to pick up a string of further bookings early in the second period as they struggled to keep their composure and home captain

Danny Bragoli hit a 25 yard shot straight at Slinn after an hour. Kelly then doubled Halesowen's lead directly from a 65th minute right-wing corner with Slinn under challenge from both Charlton and Bragoli.

As the Pics tried to recover, Platt saved for a 67th minute corner and Joe Hull's 71st shot was deflected away for another corner. But Slinn had to show safe hands as Kelly whipped in another dangerous 76th minute Halesowen corner.

Rushall's unhappy afternoon was summed up as Hull struck the outside of the post in the 86th minute when in space from the centre of the penalty area.

Teams

Halesowen Town: Platt; Ekongo, Kelly, Goddard, Morrison, Charlton, Arnold, Bragoli (c), Knight, Monteiro, Longbottom (Diop 79). Subs Not Used: Weir-Daley, Agbor, Parsons.

Rushall Olympic: Slinn; Hull, Smikle, Hawker (Sarmento 80), Townsend (c), Whittall, Landell (Webb 62), Maye, Brodie, Dubidat (Archer 62), Waldron. Subs Not Used: Adelekan, Singh.