DABBERS REDS ARE PUNISHED
NANTWICH Town’s hopes of hanging tough were dashed by a controversial red card two minutes into the second half – and youthful Solihull Moors showed no mercy as they sauntered into the last 16 of the FA Trophy.
Despite nine changes, the National League promotion chasers controlled the Step 4 Dabbers and led at the break through Jack Stevens’s powerful downward header from a corner.
Slim hope of a turnaround for the club lying 17th in NPL West went up in smoke when Nathan Okome harshly saw red for bundling over Stevens as he jetted towards the left edge of the box. Referee Stuart Morland saw it as an obvious goalscoring opportunity despite Sean Lawton racing across to close the gap.
It was damage limitation from there and patient Moors invitingly picked at the holes left by Nantwich’s man disadvantage, creating openings at will.
Kian Ryley pinched off the toe of Courtney Meppen-Walters to roll in the second and then missed two far easier chances, including one that brushed the bar on its way over.
Morgan Owen made it three, calmly stroking a square ball inside the far post with Ryley lifting in for substitute Tyler Bruck to nod home the fourth.
More than 300 noisy Dabbers fans got their moment when Paddy Kay delightfully lobbed Nick Hayes from the right edge of the box but the visitors went down to nine men when Frazer Cookson was sent off for crashing into Gus Mafuta and Finn Howell turned in a Stevens centre in added time to round off the scoring.
“Nantwich were really good with their shape and press until the sending off,” acknowledged Moors boss Andy Whing.
“We needed a bit more care and intensity with our play, to move the ball a bit quicker, and we did in the second half.
“We had to wait for the opportunities to come in the first half and we snatched at a few, the sending off killed them a bit and we were pretty ruthless from there – that said I felt we could have had a few more but I was really pleased with the performance, application and mentality of the team.”
Nantwich boss Paul Carden said he “couldn’t tell” whether Okome’s red was harsh but admitted: “From there it was difficult but I couldn’t fault the effort and endeavour.
“It has been a brilliant cup run and the lads should be proud of themselves. The fans were outstanding, we heard them from start to finish and I was pleased we got the goal – a great goal as well from Paddy Kay, what a finish.”
He was frustrated by Cookson’s red, though. “It was harsh,” he said.
“The ref told me it ticked all the boxes, that he went in with aggression and was over the ball – he was never over the ball.
“If he had taken a minute to consider the stage and state of the game and given a yellow, no one would have asked the question.”