Tuesday's Premier Division action review

There were just a couple of games in the Evo-Stik Northern Premier League Premier Division on Tuesday night and in one of them, Rushall Olymic moved into the verge of the play-off positions with a 2-0 away victory at Nantwich Town, writes Pitchero's Steve Whitney.

The Pics' build-up to the game was disrupted when a mechanical failure to their coach just after they had left the motorway saw the players having to be ferried to the Weaver Stadium. However, it didn't seem to faze the players too much as once more they were quick out of the blocks and into a six minute lead through Sam Smith.

Only six more minutes had passed when the critical incident of the game occurred. Ahmed Obeng latched onto a through ball and left the Nantwich back line trailing in his wake. The home custodian Johnny Brain committed himself to try and reach the ball ahead of the pacey front man, sliding in with his feet outside the area, but he failed to make a decent connection and the ball came back off his arm.

The referee made his decision to send the keeper off and an outfield replacement had to go in between the stricks as there was no substitute keeper on the Dabbers bench. From the resultant free-kick the Pics extended their lead as Johnny Haynes swung the ball in from the right hand side and his cross was met with a deft flick by top-scorer Dave Walker for his nineteenth goal of the season.

The second half saw the home side show great spirit to try and force their way back into the game, but they were unable to penetrate a solid Rushall defence.

Tuesday night's other game saw Blyth Spartans – hammered 5-2 at Rushall last Saturday – recover to severely damage Ashton United's chances of making the top five with a 4-1 Croft Park success.

It didn't look good for Spartans, however, when they conceded a goal inside the opening minute to Aaron Burns. But they were back on level terms after 21 minutes when they were awarded a penalty which Robbie Dale duly converted. And right on half-time the hosts went in front through Lee Mason.

Seven minutes into the second period Dan Maguire pushed Spartans 3-1 ahead and he then completed a good night's work for the home side with a fourth three minutes from time.