Rushall see off young Potters
Rushall advanced to the semi-finals of the Staffordshire Senior Cup with a 2-0 win over a young Stoke City XI.
The Pics started the game brightly with Jamie Spencer forcing Daniel Gyollai into a save early on before the striker had another chance and just couldn't get the ball out from under his feet to test the Stoke keeper again.
Spencer was causing the Potters all sorts of problems and showed good movement to try a spectacular bicycle kick but only succeeded in stabbing the ball wide.
Kieran Morris sent a powerful shot towards Gyollai from 20 yards who did well to hold the ball before Dominic Telford rattled the post from a narrow angle for the visitors.
Great work down the left from Alex Reid, who turned Lewis Banks inside and squared to Zak Martin who swept the ball home from 10 yards.
It got better for Rushall on the hour mark as the Pics kept possession down the left before Jordan Fitzpatrick crossed in and Spencer volleyed in left-footed from 15 yards – a goal the striker deserved on the night.
The win continues Rushall's unbeaten run in 2016 and they will wait to find out their opposition in the next round. The Pics are back in Evo-Stik Northern Premier action Saturday when they take on Barwell looking to keep their undefeated streak, which now stands at six matches, going.
A Joe Pickering strike earned Heath Hayes the Midland League Division One spoils at Pilkington.
Pickering fired home the all-important goal from an acute angle following a superb through ball from Steven Yates.
