Rushall Olympic take the lead against Chasetown. Pic: Dave Birt
Rushall Olympic take the lead against Chasetown. Pic: Dave Birt
Rushall Olympic take the lead against Chasetown. Pic: Dave Birt

Chasetown FC suffered their 11th straight defeat to rivals Rushall Olympic in a fiery Staffordshire Senior Cup Quarter-Final.

The Pics have the ‘Indian sign’ over their near neighbours and despite a good first half from the Scholars, the home side still managed to go in at half-time a goal to the good.

After a stalemate that saw Ahmed Obeng force the only save, the hosts won a corner and James Dance’s delivery fell to Dele Adebola who saw his effort cleared off the line. But Jack Duggan was on hand to bundle the ball home from close range.

Rushall should have made it 2-0 early in the second period. Stan Mugisha teed up Adebola whose shot came back off the post and somehow Dance managed to turn the ball over the crossbar from close range with an empty goal at his mercy.

The Scholars were reduced to ten men when Joe Halsall received a straight red for a challenge that the referee deemed dangerous.

But the reduction in numbers didn’t end the game as a contest. Nick Wellecomme volleyed a chance over the crossbar from a corner but at 1-0 Chasetown felt they still had a chance.

Rushall increased their advantage in somewhat controversial circumstances, though. As Mugisha advanced, he appeared to foul his opponent but the whistle never came and the Pics man fired a rocket beyond Price to seemingly put the tie beyond any doubt.

Jazz Luckie scores for Chasetown. Pic: Dave Birt
Jazz Luckie scores for Chasetown. Pic: Dave Birt

With thoughts now perhaps returning to the league programme and the push for the play-offs, Scholars boss Craig Harris introduced Jazz Luckie and Richard Anslow from the bench and they combined to give Chasetown a lifeline in the game.

Anslow received the ball on the edge of the box and slipped a nice reverse pass into Luckie’s path and he out-muscled his marker and drove a crisp shot into the far corner of the net from a tight angle.

Christian Dacres hit the post for the second time for Rushall late on as they progressed to a home tie in the semi-final with Rocester or Norton United.

Rushall Olympic: Gemmell, Turner (Daniel, 87 mins), Spink, Duggan, Smith, Craddock (Dacres, 64 mins), Palmer, Dance, Adebola (Caines, 75 mins), Obeng, Mugisha. Subs not used: Spencer, Maher.
Chasetown: Price, Evans, Beckett, Halsall, Robinson, Bennett, Brown (Luckie, 75 mins), Bragoli, Wellecomme (Anslow, 75 mins), Butler, Stephens (Gould, 56 mins). Subs not used: Farmer, Pond.

Click below to see Dave Birt’s pictures from the game: