Ten-man Stockton Town put in a determined performance to earn a valuable point at Rushall Olympic.
Words by James Cartwright
Photo by Harry Cook
Rushall Olympic 2-2 Stockton Town | 23rd August 2025
Goals: Josh Scott, 1-0, 7 min; Alex Moore, 1-1, 9 min; Fenton Heard, 42 min, 2-1; Kev Hayes, 59 min, 2-2
Stockton headed into the game without a number of first team players and were only able to name three substitutes on the bench. Two of which were U18s in Jaedon Faulkner
Despite this, Stockton made a great start and took an early lead when Josh Scott kept his composure to finish after the ball broke out to him following a corner.
But that was short lived as Alex Moore picked his spot to even the contest.
The injury crisis worsened for Stockton as they were forced into an early change with Stephen Thompson coming off for Faulkener.
Rushall had the two big chances to go ahead but stand-in Harry Christy made some vital interventions. First he turned away Carter Lycett’s low drive, and later he made a double save as Moore and Dan Jarvis tried to find the target.
Stockton’s afternoon took a turn for the worse when they were reduced to ten men. Tom Coulthard was given his marching orders after he was adjudged to have brought down Aaron Bishop who was bearing down on goal.
Shortly before the break, Rushall poked their noses in front when a set piece routine was headed across goal for Fenton Heard to nod in.
Half-Time: Rushall Olympic 2-1 Stockton Town
In an effort to salvage something from the game, Michael Dunwell brought off Jack Spears and brought on Birtles to add another body to the midfield.
Stockton found a fortuitous route back into the contest when Jordaan Brown suffered a moment of madness. He picked up the ball thinking it was a goal kick and a penalty was awarded. Kev Hayes kept his composure and went the opposite side of Ben Cisse to level the match.
Even though they had ten men, the Anchors still tried to push forward when they could. They almost went ahead when Hayes burst forward and his ball across was turned away by Cisse before Faulkner could apply a finish.
King then drove forward and his ball across narrowly missed Faulkner.
Despite their man-advantage Rushall did not create a huge amount of opportunities but they did increase when they made a triple change. Anthony Dwyer, Roddy McGlinchey and Liam McAlinden all came on.
However they were met by a resistant Anchors’ defence. Goalkeeper Christy came up big again when he turned away a well-hit volley by McAlinden.
Full-Time: Rushall Olympic 2-2 Stockton Town