This was a very different game to the comfortable stroll that they had experienced in their opening game on Saturday. Opponents Rushall also boasted a winning start to the season and the visitors will be disappointed that did not take at least a share of the spoils in this local derby game writes Russell Brown.

With controversial refereeing decisions currently in the headlines, the Pics will be adding their names to the aggrieved list as they were denied what looked a solid penalty in the second half after their were left trailing 2-1 at the time.

A cagey opening fifteen minutes saw little in the way of chances created. Home keeper Lee Evans caused some concern when he took a little too long over a back pass and Duncan Willetts was sharp enough to charge down the attempted clearance. Fortunately, the ball span harmlessly out of play.

The keeper made amends when former Chasetown midfielder Grant Beckett curled on a shot that dipped sharply and Evans just got the slightest touch to flick the ball onto the bar and out. However, Evans did not get the recognition for the save as the officials awarded a goal kick.
On 22 minutes a rash challenge on Damian Charie brought the visitors the chance to bring up free kick specialist Lee Barrow and the experienced defender curled the ball around the four man wall to beat Evans at his left hand post.

Chasetown responded and a cross from Paul Spacey almost found the waiting Dean Perrow in the area, but a defender nipped in to take the ball off the strikers head to force a corner that Pics keeper Tony Breedon easily plucked out of the air.

The home side drew level in the 37th minute. Again Spacey was involved as he chested down a pass and pushed the ball through to Dan Smith. The lively strike burst into the box only to be caught by Rushall skipper Richard Brown and the referee had no hesitation in pointing directly to the spot. Up stepped Perrow and he punished his former team mates be clinically dispatching the penalty to earn his third goal in two games for Chasetown.

After the break Chasetown visibly upped the tempo and utilising their wide men, began to take on Rushall down the flanks. Two minutes after the break a clumsy challenge brought a free kick on the right and Mark Branch took full advantage to whip the ball goal wards and the ball seemed to take a deflection off Chad Sheppard to fly past a surprised Breedon.

With Chasetown in the ascendancy, the game turned on a 67th minute incident. A Rushall counter attack saw Charie cut inside his defender only to be halted in his tracks a couple of feet inside the box. With the referee quickly blowing for a foul, the Rushall contingent were incensed when Mr Weaver indicated the offence took place outside the area and awarded a free kick. After a minute of chaotic scenes as Olympic players crowded around the officials, the free kick was smashed harmlessly into the defensive wall.

In an attempt to claw back into the game, the visitors brought on Chris Brindley to add to the aerial threat to Chasetown, but it was the home side who nearly increased their lead as Nick Hawkins was inches too high with his effort and then Breedon was forced to back pedal furiously as substitute Craig Holland hit a cross shot that almost caught out the big keeper who was forced to tip the dipping ball over the bar.

With three minutes of injury time played, Rushall were handed a last minute opportunity to snatch a point as the referee awarded a free kick in a similar position to Barrow’s earlier success, but this time the defender saw his set piece strike the crossbar and the last chance had gone for the Pics.

Chasetown: Evans, Spacey, Branch, Slater, Thomas, Williams, Steane (Holland), Parsons, D Smith, Perrow, Hawkins (S Smith)

Other Subs: McMahon, Peel, Thompson (not used)