Injury time heartbreak as Rushall get Luckie break
RUSHALL Olympic sit five points clear at the top of the Evo-Stik Premier Division but returned down the M6 rather fortunate to maintain that margin after Skelmersdale United at least matched them at the Uretek Stadium.
Going a goal down to a deflected shot midway through the first-half, Skelmersdale had more of the possession after the interval and after pushing and pushing against a highly organised and solid defence they got their breakthrough on 86 minutes when Max Hazeldine was sent crashing to the ground, allowing Chris Almond to slot a deserved spot kick equaliser.
However in a cruel last few minutes, league leaders Rushall fought back, won a corner and managed to blast home a winner in added time.
After an exciting opening few minutes when Rushall put a shot just wide and Skem’s Dylan Smith headed just wide the game was a bit of a “slow burner” as both sides matched each other, energetically not allowing the other much progress.
The league’s top scorer Alex Reid was thwarted with some ease by Martin Fearon after firing in a shot on 17 minutes, then after a foul on Hazeldine on 31 minutes, Kenny Strickland’s free kick went over the crossbar. Rushall struck on 34 minutes. Jazz Luckie ran at the Skem defence from the left, his route taking him toward the middle of the pitch, he shot from 20 yards struck a defender and left Fearon no chance at all at it went into the corner of the net opposite him.
In the period between the goal and the interval Skelmersdale threatened. A free-kick was cleared for a corner then Luke Wall had a shot blocked by a Rushall defender and Hazeldine shot wide. Finally in added time Almond broke clear and squared the ball to Strickland, however, his shot went wide.
The pattern of play in the second-half was pretty straight forward, Skelmersdale pushed to equalise and Rushall fell back on the defensive, relying on the counterattack, a tactic which they were extremely efficient with, especially the defence which was probably the best Skem have met this season.
Immediately after half-time Reid put a shot off target as Rushall attacked but then Skelmersdale fairly dominated possession.
Wall met a Tom Ince cross at the far post but his effort was high and wide, on a swift counter-attack Rushall found the net but were offside, then Almond went close for Skem.
Four minutes from time the ball was played to Hazeldine’s feet, at his back was big centreback Henry Eze, Hazeldine riggled past him and with an out stretched leg was tripped, the referee awarded a penalty and Eze exited proceedings after a second yellow card of the afternoon, Almond sending Rushall keeper Jose Veiga the wrong way from the spot.
Rushall reacted by going onto the attack and to a point it could be argued that Skelmersdale panicked a little, Rushall won a corner, the ball wasn’t cleared properly and Joe Hull hit a low shot into the Skelmersdale goal from 12 yards. It was a hammer blow to Skem.