Moors tasted away defeat for the second time this season as two first half goals were enough to condemn them to a 2-1 reverse at Rushall Olympic.

Graeme Lee was left annoyed by the nature of his side’s defending during the game which saw goals at the beginning and end of a first half in which Moors had enjoyed the greater of the possession.

Whilst Lee’s men started in a positive fashion with the ball, it was the home side who got their early break when they went in front on just five minutes. Keeper Paul White clattered a long ball down field which caught out the Moors defence and Dempsey Arlott-John scampered in behind and finished brilliantly past Brad James for 1-0.

Moors responded positively and began to dominate the ball again, working it well down both flanks where Isaac Fletcher and Corey McKeown looked a real threat.

McKeown was able to get a sight of goal after a quick counter-attack from Moors but he couldn’t get enough venom on his shot after twisting and turning on the edge of the area.

There was similar frustration for Fletcher who galloped into space on the left of the box after some good football opened up The Pics’ defence but his low ball across evaded everyone in the middle.

Rob Ramshaw did superbly in the centre circle to protect the ball before drilling a fine pass into McKeown on the right and he drove forward only to send a low ball too far in front of Taylor and again the hosts survived.

On 37 minutes Rushall sprung forward to make it 2-0. Another long ball forward was headed clear only to the feet of Sam McLintock who took a touch and then quickly sent a wonderful chip over James from 25 yards to double the lead.

A half time inquest prompted an almost immediate response from Moors. Ramshaw saw a shot blocked and the resultant corner was only half-cleared to Reece Staunton on the left and when he shovelled the ball back into the box, Ramshaw arrived to provide the finishing touch and pull a goal back.

Moors were on the front foot now and Olly Dyson’s clever pass into the front post gave Ramshaw a chance to draw Moors level from a tight angle, but keeper Paul White pushed the effort round the post.

However, Lee’s side struggled to maintain the momentum and while they again enjoyed plenty of the ball they couldn’t find the precision within the final third to test White further.

Substitute Zanda Siziba thought he had won a penalty when he tried to keep the ball alive inside the area and was bundled over from behind by Pics skipper Nathan Cameraon but the referee wasn’t interested in the appeals and waved play on.

Fletcher curled an effort over the bar from 20 yards and Glen Taylor flashed a venomous free-kick just wide of the upright as Moors desperately tried to claw something from the game in the final stages.

But the home side held firm to record their first victory of the season and leave Moors waiting for their first return on the road so far.

Full Time: Rushall Olympic 2 Moors 1

Rushall Olympic: White, McDonald, Charles (King 730, Bood, Offler, Cameron, McLintock (McGlinchey 66), McAlinden (McWilliams 90), McDonagh (Benbow 78), Arlott-John (Campbell 78), Martin.

Booked: McGlinchey (81)

Moors: James, Dyson, Bartley, Ledger, Staunton, Ross, Dolan (Harris 83), McKeown (Siziba 62), Ramshaw, Fletcher, Taylor.
Subs not used: Rowe, Myers, Howard.

Booked: Lee (89), Fletcher (90)

Referee: Darren Rogers