Top of the table Hednesford Town travelled to Dales Lane to face local rivals Rushall Olympic who were languishing in the relegation zone before kick-off. A disappointing afternoon, in appalling conditions, saw the Pitmen fall to a rare defeat due to a late goal from substitute Jakub Kruszynski.
The Pitmen had the better of the first half and an early move saw Max Sheaf fire behind the goal from a tight angle. Minutes later an excellent cross from Akheem Rose just evaded Dom McHale at the far post. Chris Hussey had an attempt at goal from a freekick forcing Jake Laban into making a low save. Rushall had the first of two penalty appeals in the 22nd minute waved away by the referee; the second shout was also denied following a challenge by Hussey on Mckeal Abdullah. The chance of the half followed for the Pitmen in the 40th minute when an inviting cross from Montel Gibson fell to Niall Watson who saw his header hit the crossbar. Just before the break Watson won a corner for Hednesford, Hussey stepped up to deliver an out swinging ball which Ryan Wynter headed straight at Laban, who made a comfortable save.
HT 0-0
If the first half belonged to the Pitmen, the second belonged to the hosts. Sam Unitt got a shot away from an acute angle two minutes into the half which went high and wide before Nick Clayton-Phillips sent an effort over the bar. In the 58th minute another golden chance fell to the Pitmen when Rose found himself clear on goal, however his finish lacked composure and went well over the bar. Former Pitman Carter Lycett increasingly was finding space down the left and delivering some dangerous crosses into the box for Rushall. The home side began to threaten late on with a series of freekicks and corners with the Pitmen defence looking nervous and indecisive. A corner delivered by Lycett, was cleared off the line by the Pitmen defence and out for a second corner. The second corner was headed in at the near post by Kruszynski to give the Pics a lead that on balance they deserved. Despite four minutes of added time, Rushall maintained possession of the ball well, and the Pitmen were unable to carve out any chances to equalise.
Rushall Olympic; Laban, McGlinchey, Lycett, Texeira, Brown, Willets (Whittall 65), Unitt, Moore, Abdullah (Riley 73), Clayton-Phillips (Kruszynski 69), McAlinden (Enright 92). Sub not used; Wakefield.
Hednesford Town; Breeden, Morgan, Hussey, Trickett-Smith, Harrison, Wynter, Watson (Sterling-James 59), Sheaf, Gibson (Edwards 76), McHale, Rose. Subs not used; Parke, Maye, Taylor
Attendance: 1864
