Stalybridge Celtic 1 Rushall Olympic 2 - Report
A goal in each half for the Pics was enough to earn a hard fought victory against Stalybridge Celtic at Bower Fold this afternoon.
Brian Smikle had a great chance in the fourth minute when Andre Landell nodded down a Richard Brodie cross, but the Pics man shot straight at the keeper from eight yards out.
Stalybridge took the lead on seven minutes through an own goal from the unfortunate Joe Hull, who headed into his own net from a cross in from the left.
It was an instant reply for the Pics, who equalised a minute later thanks to Andre Landell, who cut inside from the left wing before firing into the bottom corner from 20 yards out.
The visitors went close again on 38 minutes, when Hull met a Jordon Sangha corner. Unfortunately his header cannoned off the Celtic bar.
Rushall took the lead on 50 minutes through Danny Waldron, when the substitute turned home a Charlie Duke cross from the right hand side seconds after smashing the crossbar from 30 yards out.
Pics keeper Jahquil Hill made several routine saves in the second half, but the home side were unable to seriously test the Bermudan.
An equaliser did nearly arrive in the 90th minute, but the woodwork came to Rushall’s rescue as a Celtic long range effort cannoned off the crossbar and safely over the bar.
