Hat-trick hero O'Sullivan earns quarter-final place
HAT-TRICK hero Mani O’Sullivan secured Albion a dramatic 6-5 extra-time victory at Rushall Olympic to advance to the quarter-finals of the Birmingham Senior Cup.
The Baggies forward bagged a first-half brace as the visitors established a seemingly unsurmountable four-goal lead at Dales Lane – with Aaron Birch and Kemar Roofe also on the scoresheet before the break.
But the Evo-stik Premier League outfit took the game to extra-time after an incredible revival.
Olympic then led the game 5-4 – before Alex Jones levelled and O’Sullivan completed his treble to secure Albion a place in the last eight of the competition.
“The lads showed character to win the game,” said professional development coach, David Oldfield.
“It was a brilliant lesson for us against a strong team and the lads did well.”
ALBION: Rose; Francis (Greenidge 89), Atkinson, O’Neil, Gayle, C Jones, Roofe (Oldnall 91), Birch, A Jones, O’Sullivan, Ward (Hallahan 80). Subs not used: Palmer (gk); S Nabi.