Reds crash out of senior cup.

Wind swept Dales Lane was the venue for a largely uninspiring night of Birmingham Senior Cup football witnessed by a crowd of no more than a handful of hardy souls.

The blustery conditions meant quality football from either side would be at a premium but it was the Reds who dominated the early exchanges and almost took the lead in the fifth minute when Phil Green should have done better when he was clean through on goal but shot tamely into the arms of home keeper, Chris Gemmell.

Rushall created their first chance of real note in the 16th minute when former Reds man Luke Barlone shot speculatively from 30 yards – a good idea with the swirling wind but Red's man of the match, goalkeeper Chris Taylor, wasn't troubled and gathered comfortably.

Soon after, Taylor was called into action again, this time saving smartly from close range as Barlone drove the ball straight at him.

Phil Green was looking lively up front for the visitors and on 24 minutes the Reds won possession in midfield and a powerful shot from 25 yards had Gemmell at full stretch to keep the ball out.

Taylor was again in the thick of the action on 27 minutes as Chris Morris crossed for Barlone and although his first time shot was parried by Taylor, Ashton's follow up was gathered at the second attempt and the danger thwarted.

The Reds instantly hit back at their hosts with Green again trying his luck from distance after the Reds were awarded a free kick some 30 yards out.

Green drove the ball low and hard through the wall but the Rushall keeper did well to get across his line to parry, then gather as the ball bounced invitingly in the box.

The Reds did take the lead however in the 39th minute after a short corner from the left was curled in on the wind and confusion in the Rushall defence meant the ball wasn't cleared.

he experienced Duane Darby made no mistake, pouncing on the loose ball and smashing home from five yards.

The goal seemed to lift the home side and before the interval, Chris Taylor made two tremendous saves.

First he turned the ball round the post low down to his right for a corner as the ball looked destined for the net then saved well from a Christian Dacres volley from the edge of the box, ensuring the Reds went into the break one up.

On 53 minutes the tie looked all but over as Robbie Ager's speculative looping cross completely fooled Gemmell in the Rushall goal and as the keeper came to gather he misjudged the flight of the ball and it dropped over his head into the back of the net.

As with the first goal the hosts were lifted by this set back and immediately attacked at pace with Barlone smashing a shot against Taylor's right hand upright which had the Reds keeper at full stretch.

Just minutes later, Amos planted a firm downward header on goal but again Taylor managed to turn it round the post for another corner.

The hard working Darby was replaced by Nathan Smith shortly followed by Louis Hamilton replacing Sam Malsom, as Matt Gardiner looked to provide some fresh legs and an outlet to break up the home side's domination.

But the changes were to no avail as Rushall eventually got their reward on 76 minutes as a long range speculative shot from Chris Morris looked to be heading just past the far post but the ball swerved in the blustery wind at the last minute and nestled in the bottom corner as Taylor stood motionless and in somewhat disbelief.

Shortly after the goal Jordan Fitzpatrick replaced recent signing Jared Wilson, who was clearly in some discomfort following an awkward landing after an earlier tackle.

The Reds were looking to shore up the defence and hold on to their narrow lead against the home sides resurgence and their determination to force the tie into extra time.

On 86 and 87 minutes Chris Taylor was again on hand to keep the Red's slender advantage intact making fantastic saves from a Morris shot then superbly turning McNaught's long range drive round the post.

The resultant corner however saw the home side's dogged determination rewarded as the Reds defence failed to pick up the run of the Rushall defender Amos and he headed home powerfully from close range giving Taylor no chance and sending the tie into extra time.

In the 102nd minute a nasty challenge from the already cautioned Marlon Walters on Stuart McNaught went unpunished when it looked certain that he would receive his marching orders from referee Horton and after a lengthy delay and treatment from both team's physios thankfully the player was able to continue.

The first period of extra time ended with the home side in the ascendancy but the scores still level at 2-2 and it was Rushall who continued to dominate the second period of extra time with the Reds looking like a tired side who were almost struggling to get themselves into the game.

On 110 minutes, Rushall took the lead for the first time in the match when McNaught rose unmarked at the far post to firmly head home O'Kelly's pinpoint cross past Taylor to make it 3-2.

Just after the restart things went from bad to worse as Marlon Walters received his second caution and a subsequent red card for yet another untimely tackle and this signalled the beginning of the end for the visitors as Dacres and Hepburn completed the rout.

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Reds:  Taylor, Wilson, Quaynor, Timmins, Spencer, Walters, Ager, Gayton, Malsom, Darby, Green.

Subs:  Smith (for Darby), Hamilton (for Malsom), Fitzpatrick (for Wilson)  Not Used: Pead, Ayres.

Goals: Darby, Ager.

Referee: A.Horton.