Darlaston dumped out of Vase

Birmingham County FA Vase

DARLASTON TOWN 0 AFC SOLIHULL 2

TWO-TIME former winners Darlaston Town bowed out of the Birmingham County FA Vase at the first hurdle, losing 2-0 to Midland League AFC Solihull.

Manager Andy Parkes took the opportunity to give squad players some game time and also tried different tactical options.

Sam Causton was suspended for the game following his sending off last week, Leon Taylor and Danny Mayne reverted to the bench, in came Ant Follows, Ryan Kingdon and Corey Mason, who was handed his full debut. David Richards returned from his enforced break through injury whilst Daniel Bolzon returned to the bench after injury and Mark Swann moved from central defence to centre forward.

In glorious sunshine and on a near perfect playing surface Darlaston had much the better of possession but were generally out of sorts and despite 17 attempts on goal, none really forced visiting keeper Mark Fitzsimmons into a save.

The home side made a confident start with early chances for Tyrone Clarke-o’connell, Kingdon and Richards, none of whom troubled Fitzsimmonds.

Despite having the majority of the possession the build up play was slow and methodical, only Noah Diallo looking to inject some pace.

Mark Swann and debutant Corey Mason missed half chances whilst the visitors’ leading scorer Jon Hamer always looked a lone threat. The slowness of their build up play and lack of movement allowed the visitors’ three commanding central defenders captain Tom Reynolds, Steven Mason and Tony Furness to easily snuff out any goal threats, forcing the home side into shooting from distance or snatching at chances.

Opener

With only their second attempt at goal and against the run of play the visitors opened the scoring in the 43rd minute. Jon Hamer played in Joel Hughes behind Darlaston’s back line, Hughes beating keeper Whittaker with ease to give the visitors a 1-0 lead.

A blistering half time team talk didn’t produce the desired improvement or increased urgency and the second half took much the same path. Darlaston were on top and had the majority of possession but their build up play was too slow and Solihull easily contained them.

As the visitors grew in confidence Hughes and Hamer were seeing more of the ball and starting to stretch the home defence.

The introduction of Andy Matthews in the 66th minute gave the visitors real pace up front, causing Darlaston big problems. The home side still dominated possession but lacked width, ideas and a cutting edge even after the introduction of top scorer Leon Taylor from the bench.

Solihull put the game beyond doubt in the 74th minute, when livewire Hamer capitalised on a mistake wide on Darlaston’s left to run behind the home side’s defence, his well-weighted cross found the onrushing Elliott Price who gave keeper Whittaker no chance.

Exposed

With Darlaston pushing forward in an attempt to to get a foothold back in the game, they left themselves exposed at the back, Solihull’s pacey front two Hamer and Matthews forcing Whittaker into full stretch saves after fast counter attacks.

Darlaston return to league action on Saturday when they travel to Long Lane, Essington, to take on Wyrley at 3pm.