Moors mini run ends as Shots are victorious

Solihull Moors’ five match unbeaten run came to an end as Aldershot returned to winning ways thanks to goals from Shamir Fenelon and Scott Rendell.

The Moors had been firing of late putting four goals past both Maidstone United and Southport but Aldershot were always going to be a side of a higher order, capable of attracting better players and fighting higher up the league table and it proved too much on this occasion.

Moors were unchanged for the trip down south with only Andy Brown a new inclusion to the entire 16, returning to the bench. The hosts made six changes following a midweek drubbing received from Forest Green Rovers.

In a quiet first half, neither keeper had an awful lot to do. Charlie Walker was lively off the much-travelled Scott Rendell and had two efforts early on, one flying wide and the other comfortable for Nathan Vaughan. There was a penalty shout a quarter into the game when Akwasi Asante was pushed but the referee acted as though nothing happened.

Playing in red shorts due to a colour clash with Aldershot’s blue, Sterling-James almost got in behind before Reynold’s tackle fell for captain Beswick who fired over. On a couple of occasions the ball almost fell for Asante only for Shots defenders to get toes to the ball and deny the burly forward a real chance to add to his recent goal tally.

The half ended with Beswick in the book and Vaughan being forced into a fine stop. The hosts most definitely on top but Moors trying to counter-attack with thrust hoping to get Asante more into the game.

The second half began with Jordan Fagbola somehow failing to register his name on the scoresheet heading wide with a guilt-edged chance. Walker’s snapshot was pulled wide but the deadlock was soon broken.

Shamir Fenelon has found himself in non-league after failing to truly announce his abilities to the Football League in several loan spells. As a second-half substitute at the Recreation Ground, Fenelon fired his team 1-0 ahead with a drilled strike into the corner.

A trio of substitutions were made by Marcus Bignot in a bid to get something from the game. Harry White and Andy Brown replaced Akwasi Asante, who was quiet, and Jamey Osborne while Darryl Knights was introduced a few minutes later in place of Omari Sterling-James.

Unfortunately the second goal came courtesy of Scott Rendell who somehow headed past Vaughan following fine work by Kellerman on the Aldershot right.

With the same starting XI beginning their third game in a week, getting victory at Aldershot was always going to prove difficult particularly when you consider their home record so far this season.

Still, Moors sit 14th in the league table and 9 points above the relegation zone. It’s the F.A Cup next, with the Moors taking on Kettering Town at the Automated Technology Group Stadium next Saturday at 3pm.

Starting XI: Vaughan; Fagbola, Daly, Gough, Franklin; Byrne; Murombedzi, Osborne (White), Beswick, Sterling-James (Knights); Asante (Brown).


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