Knowle miles a-Head in ten-goal cup rout - Solihull non-league latest - The Solihull Observer

Knowle miles a-Head in ten-goal cup rout - Solihull non-league latest

Solihull Editorial 14th Jan, 2020   0

JON Hill is looking for a response from his AFC Solihull side after a 3-2 home defeat to Castle Vale Town halted their recent revival in Midland Football League Division Three.

An Ollie Parsons strike gave AFC the lead, before the visitors came back to lead going into the break.

Steven Boyce brought reprieve for the hosts in the second half, although the goal was not enough to spur Solihull on to victory as Castle Vale stole the points with a late winner.

A dismayed Hill said: “It was hugely disappointing not to continue the momentum of previous games.




“We weren’t good enough on the ball today and weren’t at the levels of previous weeks. All we can do is move on from this and put things right next Saturday where I’ll be looking for a reaction.”

The hosts enjoyed a positive start to the game and took a deserved lead when Parsons rushed through on goal and converted from close range, although a freakish own goal from 30 yards drew Castle Vale level.


Nonetheless, AFC continued to threaten and troubled the visiting keeper time and again – albeit to no avail.

Instead, it was the visitors who took the lead following a well-worked move from a corner kick to hand them a half-time advantage.

AFC’s resolve failed to diminish as a result, so there was little surprise when Boyce fired home an equaliser to swing the pendulum once more.

But in similar fashion to the opening period, the failure to make the most of several opportunities proved costly for Solihull following a Town winner eight minutes from time.

Hill’s side remain in tenth, ahead of a trip to 12th-placed Upton Town on Saturday (2pm).


PREMIER Division Highgate United did not have a fixture lined up last weekend, so will go into Saturday’s (3pm) game against AFC Wulfrunians at The Coppice with fresher legs after the busy Christmas period.


CHELMSLEY Town’s losing streak was extended to four matches last weekend after a 3-1 defeat by Brocton in Division One.

Danny Brain’s first-half equaliser took Chelmsley into the break on level terms after Connor Haddaway’s 16th-minute opener.

But his side were given food for thought after Declan Arber and Jack Weldon struck in the second half to leave Town stuck in 16th place.

Chelmsley attempt to put right their downturn in form with an away game against GNP Sports on Wednesday (7.45pm), followed by a meeting with Leicester Road at Pack Meadow on Saturday (3pm).


SOLIHULL United are through to the last four of the Birmingham Saturday Vase after easing past Central Ajax 4-0.

Stanley Anaebonam and Costelus Lautaru grabbed a brace each against the Division Three side, with the former notching the first just before the half-hour mark.

It gave the hosts the incentive to take control of the game, having had to withstand some early pressure from Ajax.

A second goal arrived before the break , this time netted by Lautaru from the penalty spot after Harry Eden had been felled inside the box.

The visitors missed a golden chance within seconds of the restart to halve the deficit, one that proved crucial as Lautaru slotted home Solihull’s third to all but confirm their progression.

Both sides continued to play expansive football, though the extra quality in the hosts’ ranks was evident as Anaebonam completed the scoring with 25 minutes to play – directing Eden’s cross-shot into the net.

Solihull are the first side through to the semi-finals of the Vase, with the other three ties to be played this weekend.

As a result, United’s Division Two fixture with Alcester Town, one of their potential opponents in the last four, has been postponed.

Sam Manoochehri’s side have a free weekend before visiting Earlswood Town in a local derby on Saturday, January 25 (1.45pm).


KNOWLE put ten past Lane Head to advance in the Les James Challenge Cup last weekend.

The Division Two outfit were a class above their league rivals, with Louis Bridges grabbing a hat-trick in the 10-1 rout to set up a quarter-final clash with either FC Shush or Sutton United.

Charlie Griffiths provided the opening goal 20 minutes into the game when whipping a left-footed strike into the corner from the edge of the penalty area, with captain Steven Ruck scoring an equally-pleasing goal two minutes later.

John Flanagan struck the third and final goal of the half with a low strike that left the keeper no chance, prior to the second-half onslaught that ensued.

Remarkably, the next goal arrived 15 minutes from time in the visitors’ favour, though a Brandon Hague strike seconds later prompted a late flurry of action.

On 78 minutes, the hosts had their fifth when Lewis Cosgrove thrashed a header home from a corner, followed by Charlie Griffiths’ composed finish for number six.

Bridges scored his first of the night with five minutes to go when rounding the Lane Head keeper and blasting home, before setting up Nathan Corry for a simple tap-in.

Then, in the space of a minute, Bridges scored twice to complete a four-minute hat-trick.

For his second, he beat the goalkeeper to a long ball to fire into an empty net, and then swept the ball in from George Seeley’s pass to complete his trio of goals and the scoring.

Lane Head will be cursing their luck as the two sides go head-to-head at Hampton Road once more this Saturday (2pm) in a league fixture.


THE SOLIHULL derby between Earlswood Town and Hampton in Division Two was called off 15 minutes prior to kick-off last Saturday.

Hampton will now look to a home game against Redditch Borough (2pm), while Earlswood head to Coventry Alvis (3pm), on Saturday.


JAY Payne’s double earned FC Shush a 2-1 victory in the derby against Birmingham Tigers in Division Three.

His 31st-minute strike to break the deadlock was cancelled out by Ferid Mussanure’s deadly finish from the edge of the area eight minutes later.

With 20 minutes of the second half elapsed, Payne scored a goal not too dissimilar to his first to earn Shush the bragging rights.

FC Shush are now fourth and host Welland on Saturday, while ninth-placed Birmingham Tigers welcome Continental Star (both 2pm).

Business Directory

From plumbers, to restaurants, we can provide you with all the info you need.

Public Notices

View and download all of the public notices in the Solihull Observer.

Buy Photos

Buy photos online from the Solihull Observer newspaper.

Printing

We can provide all of your printing needs at competitive rates.