Rushall Olympic 2 Hednesford 1 - Report and pictures

The Pics, who haven't lost on home turf to their West Midlands rivals for 22 years, saw their winning running in the Evo-Stik Northern Premier division extended to five matches thanks to goals from Alex Reid and Stan Magisha.

In an entertaining and keenly contest encounter, a crowd of 804 spectators saw Liam McDonald's Pitmen take a first half lead when George Carline headed home a Danny Glover cross.

But the Pics pulled level three minutes after the interval when top scorer Alex Reid nodded home from close range for his 11th goal of the campaign.

And then with just three minutes remaining, substitute Mugisha won the points for his side when he rounded keeper Danny Crane before firing home from an acute angle.

The derby saw of two the league's most inform sides go head-to-head with the Pics entering the clash on the back of four straight victories having overcome Ilkeston on Tuesday.

Hednesford meanwhile, secured a 5-0 a win against Sutton Coldfield on the same evening, a result which lifted them up to fourth in the table – one point behind their West Midlands rivals.

It was the home side who started the brighter of the two teams with John Allen's men twice coming close to breaking the deadlock inside the opening 15 minutes.

First, Jordan Fitzpatrick hit a dipping and curling half-volley from 25-yards which sailed narrowly over the bar.

Top scorer Reid then saw two shots well blocked by James Mutton after the forward had initially capitalized on an error by the defender to seize possession.

The Pitmen had struggled to get going, but they came a whisker away from breaking the deadlock with their first real attack.

Joel Logan did well to dance his way past Zak Martin and into the box. The winger then fizzed a cross along the six-yard box which was met by Carline but the midfielder side-footed wide when he should have done better.

That move though proved to be a warning for what was about to come with Carline making amends for the miss just 60 seconds later.

This time Danny Glover's right-wing cross was swung in for the former Rushall man who rose above Joel Kettle to power a header past Jose Veiga and into the Pics goal.

In spells the two organised teams were showing why they are competing at the top of the table with some crisp, passing football being played.

But the goal had made the clash more cagey with the ball spending a lot of time in midfield as the sides cancelled each other out.

Former Walsall star Dean Keates dragged a strike across goal as the hosts looked to get themselves on level terms before the break.

Three minutes after the interval though, Allen's side did get the equaliser their overall performance had deserved.

Keates whipped in a cross that Mo Diop headed across goal and towards Reid – with the striker nodding the ball home from close range for his 11th of the campaign.

Buoyed, the home side went in search of a second and they almost got it when Joel Kettle flashed a header wide from a corner.

Hednesford's response was immediate and they almost got their noses back in front after forcing a corner of their own.

Ashley Sammons cross found its way through to Glover at the back post but, leaning back, the striker fired over the bar.

Undeterred, the visitors continued to press and they came close once again when the well-placed Carline headed over after a fine Cohen Bramall cross.

With a little over 10 minutes remaining, it was the Pitmen who were looking more likely to grab a winner.

And they almost got it when Sammons tried to find the bottom corner with a free-kick from 20-yards but Veiga got down well to keep out the striker's effort.

But as the clocked ticked towards the 90, the game remained in the balance with both sides looking capable of snatching a winnier.

And it was the Pics who got it three minutes from time when substitute Mugisha chased down a long ball forward.

Hednesford glovesman Crane came out to meet him but the summer signing from Chasetown rounded the keeper before spectacularly finding the back of the net from an acute angle.

Rushall Olympic: Rushall: Veiga, Christophorou, Martin, Forde, Whittall, Kettle, Keates, Partodikromo (Eze 72), Diop (Mugisha 76), Fitzpatrick (Walters 64), Reid.

Subs not used: Jeys, Antonio

Hednesford: Crane, Wright, Bramall, Maye (Matthews 88), Mutton, Rowley, Logan (Sammons 59), Thorley, Glover (Dunkley 72), Singh, Carline.

Subs not used: Ransome, Bridgwater.