Eccleshall Narrowly Beaten In Senior Cup Final
Fri 17th April 2026 | County Cup Competitions | By Martin Fallon
It was heartbreak for First Division South side Eccleshall on Tuesday night as they played Rushall Olympic in the Staffordshire Senior Cup Final. However they were ultimately on the wrong side of a 3-2 scoreline in what was a thrilling final.
The Eagles had reached the final for the first time in their history, and are one of the lowest-ranked sides who enter the competition. Rushall had experience, this being their fourth consecutive season in reaching the final, with the side playing three leagues higher in the Northern Premier League Premier Division.
After Eccleshall hit the post in the opening seconds, Luke Enright opened the scoring for Rushall on two minutes as Harry Wakefield headed on a long ball with Enright firing home from inside the box. Osaze Okuonghae then made it two as he slotted home at the back post following a great ball in from Liam McAlinden.
Eccleshall pulled one back after 39 minutes when a corner was not cleared, with Nicky Parker's shot from the edge of the box blocked only for Danny Glover to tap in the loose ball. And seven minutes into the second half the scores were level, a low cross from the right hand side turned in at the back post by Jack Hassall.
With momentum on their side, Eccleshall went close on a number of occasions with Ben Marshall's free kick that graced the crossbar being the closest. However it was Rushall who got what proved the winning goal with nine minutes remaining. A good passing move down the left saw Max Ram's shot rebound off the crossbar. The loose ball was picked up by Rushall and eventually to Nicholas Clayton-Phillips who found the bottom corner from the edge of the box.
Despite the loss, Manager Nicky Parker was full of praise for his side saying afterwards "I couldn't be prouder of the lads. We've gone toe to toe with a very good Step 3 side and I thought we were the better side. We've done the club proud, we've done ourselves proud, and we have had chances to win it. It wasn't meant to be though and we will go back and concentrate on the play-off's".
Photo Courtesey of Staffordshire Express and Star
Eccleshall Narrowly Beaten In Senior Cup Final
Fri 17th April 2026 | County Cup Competitions
By Martin Fallon
It was heartbreak for First Division South side Eccleshall on Tuesday night as they played Rushall Olympic in the Staffordshire Senior Cup Final. However they were ultimately on the wrong side of a 3-2 scoreline in what was a thrilling final.
The Eagles had reached the final for the first time in their history, and are one of the lowest-ranked sides who enter the competition. Rushall had experience, this being their fourth consecutive season in reaching the final, with the side playing three leagues higher in the Northern Premier League Premier Division.
After Eccleshall hit the post in the opening seconds, Luke Enright opened the scoring for Rushall on two minutes as Harry Wakefield headed on a long ball with Enright firing home from inside the box. Osaze Okuonghae then made it two as he slotted home at the back post following a great ball in from Liam McAlinden.
Eccleshall pulled one back after 39 minutes when a corner was not cleared, with Nicky Parker's shot from the edge of the box blocked only for Danny Glover to tap in the loose ball. And seven minutes into the second half the scores were level, a low cross from the right hand side turned in at the back post by Jack Hassall.
With momentum on their side, Eccleshall went close on a number of occasions with Ben Marshall's free kick that graced the crossbar being the closest. However it was Rushall who got what proved the winning goal with nine minutes remaining. A good passing move down the left saw Max Ram's shot rebound off the crossbar. The loose ball was picked up by Rushall and eventually to Nicholas Clayton-Phillips who found the bottom corner from the edge of the box.
Despite the loss, Manager Nicky Parker was full of praise for his side saying afterwards "I couldn't be prouder of the lads. We've gone toe to toe with a very good Step 3 side and I thought we were the better side. We've done the club proud, we've done ourselves proud, and we have had chances to win it. It wasn't meant to be though and we will go back and concentrate on the play-off's".
Photo Courtesey of Staffordshire Express and Star
