Rushall Olympic

Dales Lane, home of Rushall Olympic based in the West Midlands and play their trade in Step 3 of the Non League Pyramid in the Southern League Premier Division Central. Nicknamed the “Pics” as it’s in the name “Olympic” or maybe they take a lot of pics maybe?

I’m back in the West Midlands once again! I firmly believe that this part of the UK is a hotbed for good, competitive and close games over my previous experiences which is why I love my trips down here!

This is a ground that me and Match Days Joe have expressed our interest in visiting for a while now and today is the day!! It’s Rushall Olympic vs Nuneaton Borough which could have ramifications for both sides in their respective promotion hopes at the end of the season! Let’s have it!

Onto the M1 I go to the A38 and onto the A5 and here I am in the ground in good time… Without cash to pay for parking… Detour to a local Tesco Express and now I am armed with cash! Back to the ground and that is £2 for parking. £10 to get in here as well! Sweet!

Time to kill so it’s into the bar for the rest of Manchester City and Newcastle and here is comes Bernardo Silva… Man City are piling on the pressure for Arsenal now! They win 2-0 here in the early kick off.

Is that a familiar face?! Oh yes! It’s Trevor from Hednesford! Great to see him here again! And there is Match Days Joe is finally here!

A big crowd is turning up here now! This could get tasty just like Bootlegger once said. The teams are ready! Let’s get ready for a promotion hurdle!!

Kick Off! 4 minutes in and it’s a throw in on the right for Rushall, it’s a long one, it’s come for a rushall head who goes for goal… He’s hit the bar… And it’s been turned in!!! What a start!! Alex Cameron is there at point blank and he’s got it! Right place at the right time! 1-0! A few fans at the side of us have seen the funny side of mine and Match Days Joe’s Bootlegger impression!

12th minute now and it’s a throw in on the right for Rushall again, short this time and the cross comes in, the keeper comes… He’s beaten in the air and Andre Carvalho-Landell is there… And he’s just about bundled it in! But no… Offside! It won’t count. He’s unlucky there for me, I thought it came off a Nuneaton head personally…

17 minutes on the watch and Nuneaton play down the right, it’s crossed in, Matthew Stenson with the header… Good save! The keeper parries away and Rushall get it clear.

It’s a very feisty game here! The Referee needs to keep control of this! It could turn ugly very quickly… Fans are getting more and more agitated with the Referee as the game goes on…

45th minute and Kieran Cook has it on the left on halfway… Ooooooh! Joseph Magunda with a rash challenge there! Rushall fans are furious! This could well be Red… It’s a Yellow Card! That’s a red for me! He’s a lucky boy!

Rushall 1-0 up at half time… I would not like to be Refereeing this game and the fans are giving him both barrels as he walks off…

Second half, “Oh when the pics go marching in! I wanna be in that number!” The Rushall fans are rallying behind their team now! The Nuneaton drum is banging at the other end now as well!

61 minutes now and Rushall come forward, it’s played in to Kieran Cook in the box on the left, he shoots… AND HE SCORES! Fantastic finish! And the Rushall fans go CRAZY! 2-0!

2 minutes later and Nuneaton down the right, the cross, it’s flicked at goal at the near post… Keeper saves! Rushall get it away, Nuneaton get it back on the edge of the box, it comes to Charlie Dowd to shoot… OH! Sensational defending there from the Rushall defence! Bodies on the line defending there! Corner, in it comes… Rushall clear the danger.

65th minute and Rushall come forward, Alex Cameron is played through in the box on the right, he shoots… THREE!!! SCENES HERE AT RUSHALL! The keeper got a hand to it but it’s not enough and it’s in!! 3-0!

79th minute and Rushall down the left, they get into the box with Kieran Cook, shirt pull there… Play goes on, they get it out to Jourdain Nkalambi Masidi in the box on the right who cuts inside and shoots… Over! Close!

85 minutes now and Nuneaton down the left, played across to Luke Benbow to strike from 20 yards… Good save! Tipped wide for a corner, in it comes… Prince Mancinelli with the header… Over!

Play goes on… It’s 3-0 and 3 points for Rushall! The fans are ecstatic!! What a win this is for Rushall! A Nuneaton fan is furious with his team and is giving them plenty of stick…

FT: Rushall Olympic 3-0 Nuneaton Borough

Ratings

• Atmosphere: 6/10 – Pretty good! Much better second half than the first as well.
• The Ground: 8/10 – I really like this ground! Setup really well with a vantage point one side and eye level viewing on the other. It’s a great ground that would fit in really well in the National League North!
• Expense: 10/10 – £30 in fuel, £10 to get in, £2 for parking and £4 for a pin badge, was it worth it? Yes! It certainly was!
• Overall Experience: 10/10 – Loved it! Me and Match Days Joe have certainly waited that one out well! We got the game we would have loved anywhere here today! Fantastic! Great to see Trevor here as well!

34/40