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.

- Andy Mitchell

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.