Rushall Olympic 3 Lowestoft Town 1: Injury depleted Blues go down on the road

Henry Pollock, Daniel Pinheiro and Conor McKendry battle for possession. Picture: Shirley D Whitlow (Image: Shirley D Whitlow)

The last thing they needed therefore was to see keeper Elvijs Putnins forced out of the action after just 13 minutes with a hand injury, Andy Reynolds again substituting. Putnins had already been called into action in the second minute diving to his left to save at the foot of his post from Brian Smikle. Moments later he suffered the injury diving at the feet of Ben Lund.

A further setback arrived immediately as Reynolds' first real action saw him adjudged to have brought down Lund and Sam Whittle stepped up to convert the 22nd-minute penalty.

Lowestoft's reply saw Kieran Higgs scythed down by Joe Slinn just to the right of the penalty area with the Pics keeper lucky to escape with just a yellow card. From the free kick Conor Mckendry curled the ball beyond the keeper but against the bar.

Eagle had his cross deflected wide of his own goal by Joe Hull and Reynolds pushed a piledriver from Tyler Little round the post as the first half came to an end.

Conor McKendry was on target in Lowestoft's 3-1 defeat at Rushall Olympic. Picture: Shirley D Whitlow (Image: Shirley D Whitlow)

The second half saw Rushall exploit the inexperience in the Lowestoft midfield but it was still sloppy play that gave away two goals in the space of six second half minutes. The ball was given away on the right flank which allowed Edwin Ahenkorah to cross the ball for Danny Waldron to bundle in the net. Six minutes later Lowestoft again conceded possession allowing Waldron to pull the ball back for Lund to slot home.

In between the two goals Mckendry had a low 20-yard effort saved by the post by Slinn. McKendry had been the Trawlerboys most lively forward and he netted a consolation goal in the 77th minute cutting in from the left, taking a return pass before shooting past the keeper and in off the post. Connor Deeks who had replaced Ben Fowkes for the final 20 minutes tried a long range effort that rose over the bar as Lowestoft looked for another goal which would have made for an interest last few minutes.

Rushall Olympic: Slinn, Lyttle, Adelekan, Whittall, Hull, Townsend, Ahenkorah (Paisley 87), Smikle, Lund (Sub Richards74), Monteiro, Waldron. Subs not used: Pendley, Truslove, Singh

Lowestoft Town: Putnins (Reynolds 13), Castellan, Mckendry, Pinheiro, Jarvis, Tann, Schaar, Pollock, Higgs, Eagle, Fowkes (Deeks 70). Subs not used: Wren, Fletcher, Overy

Lowestoft Town on the attack at Rushall Olympic. Picture: Shirley D Whitlow (Image: Shirley D Whitlow)

Referee: Mr R Walker

Attendance: 281

Lowestoft are next in action on Tuesday evening when they head to Needham Market (kick-off 7.45pm).

Rushall keeper Joe Slinn makes a save as Lowestoft's Rossi Jarvis and Adam Tann look on. Picture: Shirley D Whitlow (Image: Shirley D Whitlow)

Elvijs Putnins makes the save but had to go off injured shortly after. Picture: Shirley D Whitlow (Image: Shirley D Whitlow)