Penalty King Chadwick see Robins home

Report by David Robinson. Image Jez Sayle

A penalty in each half from leading scorer Matty Chadwick were enough to secure all the points in a fluctuating encounter at Hurst Cross. With John Pritchard restored at left back and Simon Woodford deputising for Aaron Chalmers the defence had an unusual look to it and in the opening exchanges Sangha Jordan just failed to connect with Daniel Waldron’s cross for the Pics with Aj Adelekhan firing the loose ball wide before Alex Johnson capitalised on a slip at the other end leading to Jack Dyche placing his effort wide.

Just past the midway point of the half Chadwick’s pass saw Johnson fouled just inside the area by Michael Williams and Chadwick was once again successful from the spot despite the best efforts of Jahquil Hill. With the interval approaching Olympic drew level as ex-Robin Charlie Duke’s ball into the area was miscontrolled by Woodford allowing Richard Brodie to tuck it away past David Carnell. The final action of the half saw Alex Johnson fail to control a decent ball into the area from Dom Smalley.

After the break Joe Hull side footed Jordan’s corner past an open goal for the visitors and captain Mark Lees could have done better at the other end than to help Richard Smith’s scuffed effort wide of goal. Just past the hour Johnson was forced off with Nic Evangelinos replacing him and with 12 minutes remaining Chadwick and Dyche combined to send Liam Tomsett into the area from where he was fouled by Hull with Chadwick sending Hill the wrong way for his second goal.

In the final minutes Jordan Liburd was dismissed after a clash with Tomsett and Evangelinos then headed Chadwick’s cross over the bar with Hill beaten before Rushall’s last chance saw Sam Whittall glance Jordan’s corner narrowly past the far post.

Team: Carnell. Smalley, Pritchard, Woodford, Lees, Roberts, Platt (Smith 56), Tomsett, Johnson (Evangelinos), Dyche (Pilkington), Chadwick. SNU: Kaba, Ollerenshaw.