Daisy Hill’s interest in the FA Vase ended at the first hurdle on Saturday, when they fell to a 1-0 defeat at Skelmersdale United in a first round qualifying tie.

A goal from Skem’s Mark Bollongino two minutes into the second half was the difference between the two sides in the end, but Daisy dominated the game for long spells and created a number of good chances.

However, poor finishing and a fine performance from Skem goalkeeper Ben Barnes meant the afternoon ended in disappointment, and afterwards Daisy assistant manager Tom Brown felt a big opportunity to progress in the competition had been missed.

“We came into the game on the back of a good win last Monday (against Runcorn Town) and we wanted to build on that and do it again,” said Brown. “We did performance-wise, but not with the result.

“We were set up well, defensively we were solid, and the midfield in the first half especially was good, although we had to manage a few players with substitutions in the second half, with us having a game on Monday.

“The performance was good, and in the second half we created probably four or five really good opportunities, and they had two, one they scored and another that was saved.

“But these chances we are creating, we have just got to start taking them. Again, we have only lost by one goal and it’s an old cliché, but goals win games.

“When you look back at the league games when we haven’t picked points up, we had chances in those games, too, and we have just got to be better at taking them. We are saying the same thing game after game now, and we are getting to the point where we are sick of saying it. But we are not a million miles away, it’s frustrating at the moment, but I am sure it will all come good for us.”

The first half was an evenly-matched affair, with both sides enjoying an even share of possession, and chances created at both ends.

In the 16th minute Daisy had a let off when a long-range shot from Skem’s Mark Bollongino hit the bar with keeper Morgan Newns beaten.

Daisy hit back with a shot from Bailey Grant that was saved by Skem keeper Ben Barnes, and a Ben Howarth effort from 25 yards that flew over the bar.

Daisy finished the half strongly, and after a good sweeping move ended with full-back Harvey Roberts testing Barnes with a shot from the edge of the box, the keeper made the last save of the first half when he denied Howarth, who finished off another good move involving Ryan Talbot and debutant Carlton Norford.

It had been a promising 45 minutes from Daisy, and they began on the front foot straight after the restart when Talbot was played through on goal, but Barnes was able to push his shot away for a corner.

The resulting corner was cleared upfield, and with Daisy caught on the counter attack, home striker Bollongino took advantage of the space afforded to him to advance in on goal and beat Newns with a low shot into the corner of the net.

But Daisy were in no mood to lie down, and three minutes later a Roberts cross deceived the keeper as it dipped over him and hit the bar.

Newns was then called in to action to denied goalscorer Bollongino in a one-on-one, and almost immediately at the other end, Barnes in the Skem goal made the save of the afternoon, reacting quickly to push away Norford’s header from Talbot’s cross.

The chances kept coming for Daisy with Barnes again the home team saviour, with saves from a Grant shot, and a well-struck Karl Farrell effort from the edge of the box, as the visitors applied the pressure.

As the game moved into stoppage time, Skem’s attempts to waste time was a source of frustration to Daisy, and the last action of the game saw a tangle on the touchline between Skem’s Tom Ward and Daisy’s James Phillips when the ball had gone out of play, which resulted in both players being booked.

It was a second yellow card for Phillips, so a red card followed for the big central defender, to deliver a frustrating final moment on a disappointing afternoon for the visitors.

Daisy return to North West Counties League action with a trip to Barrow to face Holker Old Boys today, before hosting Ashton Town in another league fixture on Saturday.