Vanarama National League North
Dales Lane
Saturday 25th January 2025

Leamington fell to defeat on the road in the National League North for the ninth time this season as Rushall Olympic overturned an early deficit to record an important win in their battle to escape the bottom four. 

Paul Holleran made just the one change from the win over Darlington last Saturday, and it was an enforced one, with Dan Meredith serving the first of a three game suspension for his sending off against Chester. George Ward switched to right back, while Theo Streete stepped into central defence. 

The hosts, who after stunning wins over Scunthorpe and Kidderminster were brought back down to earth with a seven goal defeat at Spennymoor last Saturday, enjoyed the best of the opening few minutes, but were stunned as Leamington moved in front on seven minutes with their first serious attack of the afternoon. 

Dan Turner was played in on goal by a precision through ball from Jack Edwards, and showed the type of predatory instincts that were commonplace during his first spell at the club as he strode onto the pass and finished calmly under the dive of Paul White before celebrating with his team mates in front of the delighted travelling supporters behind the goal. 

The Pics had forced a couple of early corners, but were put under more pressure when Rob Evans’ long throw into the box eventually fell to the feet of Adam Walker, whose shot was blocked. 

Callum Hawkins confidently claimed two dangerous crosses into his box, but was a whisker away from being beaten as Aaron Forde drove a low shot right across the face of goal from the left, and inches past the far post. 

The Brakes number one was extended again as dived full length to his left to help Sam McLintock’s low strike from just outside the box behind for another corner. 

Leamington were demonstrating their usual defensive tenacity, staying tight to whoever had the ball and getting blocks in, but they were beaten just past the half hour when McLintock took advantage of the bounce of the ball as Forde played it in low from the right to finish from close range past the wrong footed Hawkins. 

Omari Sterling James rose to head another right wing centre over the bar, as Rushall attempted to build on their leveller. Joe Hull then headed just over from a similar position from another corner kick. 

Evans was derided by the home support for attempting an audacious half volley towards goal from well inside his own half as White charged back towards his own goal having made a clearance. The centre back had a wry grin on his face as he would have known that it would have taken a strike in a million to hit the target in that fashion. 

A Leamington break ended with Tim Berridge’s attempted centre for Turner played just behind the goalscorer, but play switched quickly to the other end, where Hawkins produced an incredible reaction save to deny a thunderous strike from Kian Ryley. 

The Rushall attacks were relentless however, and they were in front with their next one, as Ben Wodskou curled a precise strike beyond the dive of Hawkins into the far corner. The travelling support were incandescent as they believed that officials had missed a clear handball before the home support broke, but Leamington returned to the dressing room behind, but on the balance of play it was difficult to argue that Rushall did not deserve to be ahead.

Sterling-James mae a mess of his pass as Rushall played themselves into a good position in the early moments of the second half, before Adam Walker was felled on the edge of the Pics penalty area by Hull, who was booked. The free kick from the skipper struck the defensive wall, and Henry Landers skewed the follow up so far wide it stayed in play. 

Edwards inadvertently forced Hawkins into another save as he flicked a free kick from Josh Green towards his own goal, but the Leamington keeper was alert at his near post. The hosts were keeping the ball inside the final third well, and Brakes were struggling to clear their lines. 

Walker dragged a shot wide as Leamington finally began to show signs of life going forward, but Rushall were inches from a third as Ryley beat the Brakes defence to a ball forward and lifted his shot over the advancing Hawkins, but also the crossbar. Sterling-James was then flagged offside as he was played through for a shot that found the back of the net. 

The travelling fans were in full voice as they attempted to rally their team, but the momentum was still with the hosts. A snapshot by Sterling-James cannoned off the back of the right hand post, and Ryley fired the rebound a whisker the wrong side of the opposite upright. 

Something needed to change if Leamington were going to get anything from this game, and Holleran made a triple change of personnel, with Berridge, Edwards and Streete being replaced by Joe Clarke, Will Shorrock and Owen Farmer, who made his league debut against the club where he spent time on loan last season. 

With the sun having disappeared and the temperature dropping sharply as the floodlights came on, Leamington finally began to put some pressure on the hosts, but Turner could only direct his header over the bar. He was then played towards goal on the left, but his touch let him down and White was able to claim. 

Rushall made three changes of their own, and suddenly did not look quite so assured. Turner directed the ball into the arms of White as the ball was played into the box. Rushall Chairman John Allen, vocal in support of his team all afternoon, was becoming frustrated at the lack of assistance from his fellow supporters as the clock ticked down. 

The hosts displayed the type of battling qualities Brakes themselves have shown when defending leads in the past, and saw out six minutes of added time to celebrate the win. 

Attendance: 452

Rushall Olympic: 1 Paul White, 2 Josh Green, 4 Jack Thomas, 5 Joe Hull, 6 Nathan Cameron ©, 7 Sam McLintock (16 Dylan Barkers, 85), 9 Kian Ryley (10 Milan Lalkovic. 88), 12 Benjamin Wodskou (8 Liam McAlinden, 77), 15 Aaron Forde 14 Samuel Mantom, 76), 17 Keziah Martin, 18 Omari Sterling-James (11 Danny King, 77). 

Leamington: 1 Callum Hawkins, 3 Josh Quaynor, 5 Theo Streete (12 Will Shorrock, 65), 6 Rob Evans, 7 Henry Landers, 8 Adam Walker ©, 10 Jack Edwards (21 Joe Clarke, 65), 11 Tim Berridge (24 Owen Farmer, 65), 14 George Ward, 17 Ewan Williams (19 Ant Lynn, 87), 23 Dan Turner.  

Sub not used: 16 Jiah Medrano.

Referee: Mr Shaun Taylor

Assistant Referees: Mr Jordan Tindall & Mr Jason Porter

Fourth Official: Mr Tom Wall

Brakes Man of the Match: Adam Walker.