Late Lambert goal earns Quakers replay

By Ray Simpson

Late Lambert goal earns Quakers replay

Quakers take Solihull back to BM

Solihull 2 Darlington 2

Hatfield (22 mins 0-1), Jones (39 mins, 1-1), Beesley (61 mins, 2-1), Lambert 85 mins 2-2)

Attendance 500 ( of which 87 Darlington fans)

A late goal by Jack Lambert deservedly earned Quakers a replay in the FA Trophy.

Battling Quakers led with Will Hatfield's first goal for the club -- a a great effort from 25 yards -- but Solihull used their height to take a 2-1 lead.

But the introduction of three subs -- Jarrett Rivers, Jack Lambert and Osagi Bascome -- lifted Quakers for the last half hour, and it was Lambert who snapped up the equaliser with five minutes left.

Again, it was another hard working performance by Quakers, and they will be looking forward to the replay on Wednesday (kick off 7.45pm) more than their National League opponents.

Quakers got a free kick on the left in the opening minute, but Liddle’s cross was too high and over Donawa.

Solihull had a half chance when Jones got away down the right and pulled the ball back for Wright, but Quakers crowded him out.

McCallum then threw the ball long from the right, and the ball was deflected off Wright, but Elliott saved.

Quakers hit back, and Liddle’s cross from the left was headed away as far as Hatfield, who volleyed over the top from the edge of the box under pressure.

Hatfield then found Holness on the left, and he pulled the ball back for Hatfield to have a shot blocked ten yards out.

But the former Leeds man made no mistake on 22 minutes, when he picked the ball up 30 yards out, ran forward and hit a right foot shot into the bottom corner with keeper Shaun Rowley helpless – his first goal for the club!

Quakers then played the ball around with more confidence, and Holness set up Campbell whose first time effort was blocked.

But Solihull nearly levelled when Jones nipped in between Laing and Elliott, and touched the ball just wide.

Solihull levelled on 39 minutes, when a long ball was flicked on by Wright for Jones to run through and sidefoot past Elliott.

The home side nearly went 2-1 up just on half time, when Wright turned quickly about twelve yards out, and hit a left foot shot that struck the angle of post and crossbar.

Half time 1-1

Solihull nearly took the lead at the start of the second half when a cross came over from the right from Beesley and Wright headed just over.

They had another chance when Beesley played the ball on for James Ball to fire across goal and just past the post.

Quakers hit back with a short corner by Campbell for Ben Hedley to fire over the top from the edge of the box.

Solihull took the lead on 61 minutes when Osborne floated a corner over from the right for Beesley to have a header blocked by Elliott, but the striker recovered first to force the ball home.

It was nearly 3-1 when a corner came in from the left for Howe to head towards goal, but Elliott saved well.

However, sub Jarrett Rivers nearly levelled when he dribbled in from the right and fired just wide, then after Quakers made two more subs, Hedley drove the ball into the box for Campbell to see an effort deflected off the post at a tight angle.

Elliott then  made a flying save to keep out a  header by Beesley, and from the corner, Blissett headed against the bar.

However, the last ten minutes belonged to Quakers.

Sub Bascome carried the ball forward and hit a 30 yarder that Rowley fumbled, and the ball just went past the post.

But Quakers got just rewards for their efforts and broke through on 85 minutes when Liddle Campbell and Hatfield combined well to put Lambert in the clear, and he kept his cool to sidefoot home.

Quakers nearly won it when Solihull defender Alex Gudger passed the ball straight to Campbell, whose shot was blocked by the recovering Gudger on the line

And then  deep in stoppage time, Lambert picked the ball up on the edge of the box and set up Campbell, who fired over.

Final Solihull 2 Darlington 2

Replay Wednesday at Blackwell Meadows, kick off 7.45pm.

 

 

Darlington: Elliott, Hedley, Liddle, Wheatley (sub Bascome 75), Laing, Storey, Holness (sub Lambert 75), Hatfield, Campbell, Thompson (sub Rivers 66), Donawa

Subs: Watson, Lambert, Holliday, Bell, Bascome, Rivers

Bookings: Liddle, Thompson, Wheatley, Bascome

 

Solihull: Rowley, Williams, Gudger, Osborne, McCallum (sub Beesley 36), Blissett, Wright, Vaughan, Howe, Hall, Jones (sub Gunning 64)

Subs: Boot, Carter, Hawkridge, Gunning, Maxwell, Yussuf, Beesley

Bookings: Jones, Osborne, Williams