Barrow 0 Solihull Moors 1

Barrow AFC still haven’t won in a cup competition under Ian Evatt, after Liam Daly’s goal gave Solihull Moors a smash-and-grab victory in the fourth qualifying round of the FA Cup.

This match had all the hallmarks of the Bluebirds’ previous defeat, against Hartlepool United, as a lack of a cutting edge brought to an end their seven-match winning run.

That was despite them producing another positive performance in front of their own fans at Holker Street, but it just wouldn’t go in, with Ryan Boot having an inspired day in goal for Solihull.

It means, for the third season running, AFC will have a blank weekend in November and will have to watch other non-League clubs potentially have their day in the sun against Football League opposition.

Given it had been 11 days since Barrow had last played, it was no surprise to see a strong side named, with Lewis Hardcastle in for Olly Dyson the only change made from the line-up that started against Boreham Wood.

Joel Dixon was forced into action early for the Bluebirds when he had to get down to push away an effort from outside the area by Solihull wing-back Lee Vaughan.

AFC began to get into their stride, with their first big chance coming after 12 minutes when Dior Angus’ low ball across the area reached Hardcastle, who should have done better than blaze over the bar.

It was 19 minutes before John Rooney had his first opportunity from a free kick and he forced Boot to push his effort from the left of the penalty area over the bar.

From the resulting corner, Boot made an even better save when he somehow managed to push Sam Hird’s volley from Rooney’s cross to safety as the hosts cranked up the pressure.

Another opening came and went when Scott Quigley put a superb ball across goal that Angus couldn’t get to – if roles had been reversed, you feel the net would have bulged.

The Bluebirds then came closer still to the opener when Hardcastle drove into the area as Solihull backed off before shooting against the post, with Boot helplessly rooted to the spot.

Solihull then managed to stem the pressure, although the Bluebirds will have been disappointed not to have been in front at half-time having been clearly the better team in the first 45 minutes.

They will have been livid with the way in which they fell behind seven minutes after the restart, as Daly was allowed to nip in and head Gavin Gunning’s corner into the net from close range.

Solihull then nearly added a second two minutes later when Dixon dropped Jamie Reckord’s cross, but he was bailed out by Patrick Brough superbly clearing Danny Wright’s shot off the line.

Angus then thought he had forced an equaliser, but he was instead penalised for fouling Boot as he challenged him for Brad Barry’s cross.

Barrow started to find their feet again and came close when Quigley received the ball from Jason Taylor and turned well before bending a shot over from around 20 yards.

But the second half was a much more even contest than the first and the Moors came close to doubling their lead again when Jamie Osborne teed up Gunning, whose effort was caught by Dixon at the second attempt.

AFC continued to search for an equaliser and almost had one when Rooney’s free kick was pushed away by Boot, who was having a much better afternoon than his last visit.

He then produced another good stop to deny Quigley, with Matt Platt heading the rebound back towards goal and Hird agonisingly flicking over from close range.

There was still time for Boot to deny AFC yet again, as he pushed away Josh Kay’s curler, and that wait for progress in a cup competition under Evatt will just have to wait.

Barrow AFC (3-1-4-2): Dixon, Hird, Platt, Brough, Taylor, Barry, Hardcastle (Dyson 66), Rooney, Kay, Angus (Hindle 73), Quigley.

Subs not used: Brown, Granite, Greaves, Waddington, Penfold.

Solihull Moors (5-2-1-2): Boot, Vaughan, Daly, Gudger, Howe, Reckord, Storer, Gunning, Osborne (Ball 83), Beesley, Wright (McCallum 80).

Subs not used: Rowley, Williams, Hancox, Hawkridge, Yussuf.

Referee: Joe Johnson

Attendance: 1,523

Bluebirds star man: Jason Taylor