Solihull Moors’ winless run extended to eight after a 4-2 defeat away at Guiseley.
It was the West Yorkshire outfits second home victory of the season, courtesy of goals from Lee Molyneux, Rowan Liburd, Jake Lawlor and John Rooney, Oladapo Afolayan’s double not enough to secure a result for The Moors.
Richard Money made three changes from the midweek victory over Ossett Town with James Bowen and Akwasi Asante brought in for first Solihull Moors starts. Kristian Green was the other change as Chris Camwell, Jermaine Hylton and Oladapo Afolayan all dropped out.
Curiously, this invoked a change of formation with Asante alone up front, Daly reverting to centre-half in a back three and Jordan Liburd starting in midfield.
Both sides made a tentative start to proceedings given how much victory would have meant to both, the pouring rain and blustering wind hardly helping matters. It took 13 minutes for a notable shot at goal, Kevan Hurst controlling a low cross and firing over from 18 yards.
Guiseley took the lead on 22 minutes when Lee Molyneux, something of a long-distance shot specialist, spanked a free-kick from 25 yards into the far top corner. He was helped Nathan Vaughan taking a gigantic step to his left, mind.
Four minutes later and Money realised things weren’t working as planned. Oladapo Afolayan was brought on to replace Jordan Liburd as Moors went to two up front.
It paid dividends too as on 43 minutes it was Afolayan who equalised. James Bowen’s long throw was held up in the wind and it caused problems for the Guiseley defence who couldn’t clear. Liam Daly eventually got the ball down and backheeled it towards Afolayan who controlled the ball and fired home through a crowded penalty area.
The Moors could well have led at half-time as well. Firstly, Bowen’s left-wing cross was won by Kristian Green, the wing-back finding Asante on the edge of the area whose shot was saved. Courtney Richards then broke forward to find Afolayan who in turn played in Shepherd Murombedzi, Jonny Maxted quick off his line to smother the effort.
The second half started like the first with the only chances coming from Asante’s shot and Kevan Hurst’s cross hitting the crossbar until a crazy three minutes that turned the tide of the game.
On 65 minutes, Fiacre Kelleher went sliding in on the right and completely missed the ball giving Rowan Liburd a free run at Liam Daly. Daly held him up but dived in allowing Liburd to round him and shoot past Vaughan.
A minute later and Afolayan was involved again, finding Murombedzi out wide. The Moors number 7, now playing as a wing-back due to Hylton replacing Kristian Green, controlled the ball and returned the favour with a sharp, low cross that was gleefully side-footed home by Afolayan.
Two minutes after that, Guiseley had re-taken the lead. A long free-kick was punted into the area and Jake Lawlor was on hand to volley home. Incredible.
Money’s men did fight to get back into the game. Hylton’s agility was evident as he swivelled quickly and played in Murombedzi but he was under pressure and unable to get a strike off until the angle was too tight. Then Paul Green, who had replaced Bowen, drove inside and unleashed a fine strike that Maxted was equal too.
It wasn’t to be. With three minutes left on the clock John Rooney stepped up to take a free-kick from 20 yards. Vaughan again stepped to his left and the ball was drilled to his right. Game, set and match.
Murombedzi had another effort late on, the ball parried away by the impressive Maxted but the scoring was finish. Solihull Moors had been seen off in a key clash at the bottom of the division.
Money has only just walked into the job and he is evidently still learning about the players he had at his disposal. However, it’s hard to justify the strange team selection. We are at a point in the season where results are now critical, no matter how we earn them and to do so we have to get back to basics.
To be cliché, it is about putting this one behind us and moving onto next week as we take on Eastleigh and AFC Fylde. Now bottom of the table, a victory from one of those games is a must.
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