DEADLY DONAWA STUNS GLOVERS
WING wonder Justin Donawa hit the perfect hattrick as he inspired Solihull Moors to an emphatic victory over an out-of-sorts Yeovil side.
The Bermudian international, who had not scored a league goal since netting for National League North side Darlington more than a year ago, also set-up a fourth for midfield partner James Ball to earn the praise of boss Mark Yates
“I’m delighted for Justin,” the Moor manager admitted. “He’s worked really hard in training in the last couple of weeks but this week in particular he has been scoring goals.
“He is the ultimate team player. He works his absolute tail off, heads everything and covers that much ground defensively for us.
“I had a conversation with him yesterday. The end product was all that he had missing. His workrate and energy is brilliant. And now he’s popped up with three goals and he’s well deserved that.
“He’s brilliant in the air and his first goal didn’t surprise us. We worked on set pieces yesterday. And the second two are great finishes. They are really well deserved.
“This was a tough game and only our attitude, desire and workrate has got us what we wanted. I still think they are a really good side but we’ve caught them on a day when we were pretty ruthless.”
It was Donawa who handed Moors the lead at the break, opening the scoring on 26 minutes when he powered a header past Adam Smith after being unmarked at a corner.
Yeovil defender Luke Wilkinson hobbled off and although Ball twice went close including one effort against the post, the visitors trailed by one at the break.
Rhys Murphy got a controversial equaliser nine minutes into the second half, the striker lifting the ball over the keeper from an offside position but the ball to him had struck a home player.
But that goal seemed to spur the hosts and they restored their lead two minutes later with a fierce drive by Donawa after Kyle Hudlin had flicked on a throw.
From then on it was all Solihull. Hudlin headed in the third on the hour before Donawa set-up Ball for the fourth. And the winger wrapped it up in added on time with another well-struck effort past keeper Smith after Mitch Hancox’s long ball out of defence.
“You have to defend set-plays in any division,” Glovers boss Darren Sarll admitted.
“I thought the quality of their delivery was very good, but we have to look at the strength of our character. Some people might criticise me for using those words after what we have been through but I thought the players looked mentally tired and worn down.”