Droylsden F.C.-The bloods on the net!

DROYLSDEN 3 - 0 RUSHALL OLYMPIC

F. A. Trophy, 3rd Round Qualifying, Saturday 25th November 2006

Report by Gary Owen

A brace from leading marksman Terry Fearns, plus a strike from Steve Daly enabled the Bloods to ease past their visitors from the Midlands and book their place in the first round.

It took just eight minutes for the hosts to record their first shot on target, but Rushall stand-in Chris Gemmell was equal to Jody Banim's strike.

Gemmell again denied Banim when he spread himself well to save in the 21st minute, and Banim again went close after cutting inside, but his shot was a yard too high.

On the half hour, a slip by Lee Gough allowed Steve Jagielka the opportunity to run at the Rushall goal, and he slipped the ball to Fearns, but his first time shot was blocked by visiting skipper Richard Brown.

Moments later, Anthony McGuire found Neil Kitching at the far post for Rushall, but Paul Phillips turned away his low effort.

Arguably the game's most crucial moment came just a minute before the break, when Banim went down under challenge from Bob Vassell, rather easily for Rushall's liking, but the referee pointed to the spot, and Fearns sent Gemmell the wrong way to open the scoring.

Droylsden almost doubled their advantage immeditely from the re-start, as Rushall gifted possession to Banim, who fed Fearns, but Gemmell saved with an outstretched leg.

Two minutes after the turn around, Gough had to clear off his own line from Jagielka's shot, and from the resultant corner kick, Chris Denham's precision drive came down off the underside of the bar, and Carl Ruffer managed to head the rebound over the bar from just four yards out.

Gemmell again saved well from Banim after the referee had played a good advantage once Daniel Warner had been wrestled to the ground in the Rushall box.

Banim forced yet another saved from the Rushall custodian before disaster struck for Olympic on 56 minutes. Gemmell came out of his box to clear, but the ball struck one of his own defenders and fell to Fearns, who couldn't miss to notch his 19th goal of the season.

Rushall then adopted a more bold 3-4-3 formation, but just after the hour mark Kevin Lynch headed wide at the far post following a flowing four-man passing move by the hosts.

Gemmell saved a deflected Denham shot, and on 81 minutes Droylsden made the tie safe when sub Steve Daly benefitted from Rushall's desire to play high up the field, and found himself onside to slot past Gemmell.

With just two minutes left, Banim found himself with just Vassell to beat, and the Rushall left back timed his tackle to perfection with Banim rather looking for the foul.

In added time, Iain Howard shot straight at Gemmell after great feet by Jamie Tandy, but there was to be no further additions to the scoreline.

DROYLSDEN: Phillips 7, Williams 7, Warner 8, Robinson 7, Ruffer 7, Morris 6, Jagielka 6, LYNCH 8, Fearns 6, Banim 8, Denham 6.

SUBS: Daly 6 (for Fearns, 60), Tandy 8 (for Jagielka, 69), Burke (not used), Howard 6 (for Tandy, 81), Rapley (not used).

RUSHALL O.: Gemmell, Gough, Vassell, Brown, Wood, Barnfield, McGuire, Holdcroft, Barton, Kitching, Jackson.

SUBS: Gray (for Barton, 58), Porter (for Jackson, 67), Smith (not used), McFarlane (not used), O'Connor (not used).

SCORERS: DROYLSDEN - Fearns (44 (p) + 56), Daly (81)

REFEREE: Mr. D. Handley (Wigan, Greater Manchester)

ATTENDANCE: 332