Welcome Darryl Eales and Calvin Barnett!
As if our start to the season hadn’t been good enough, we have this welcomed two men that will give us a huge boost financially and continue the club’s rise up the National League table as we bid to do the improbable and upset the big boys.
After defeat in Fylde, we got ourselves back on track at the weekend, twice coming from behind to draw with Sutton United – one of the favourites to finish in the top seven this season.
It was a game that tested the character and determination of this group of players once more and the goals from Danny Wright and Kyle Storer showed those qualities in abundance, wanting the ball more than the opposition and rising to the occasion.
Only one other side have denied Sutton United victory this season and that was Saturday’s opponents Harrogate Town on the opening day of the season.
Like Sutton, Harrogate remain unbeaten having drew their opening three fixtures before beating both Barnet and Aldershot Town 2-0 last week.
Only Salford City denied Harrogate Town the National League North title last season but Simon Weaver’s side clearly don’t lack confidence in front of goal. They scored 100 goals on their way to a second-place finish, beat FA Trophy finalists Brackley Town 3-0 in the play-off final and have already scored nine in five league matches this season.
Two ambitious clubs face off with one another this Saturday and it could be a fascinating fixture.
Team news
Alex Gudger is the only expected absentee for Solihull Moors who will have hopefully been buoyed by a week’s rest after a very strong start to the campaign.
Jermaine Hylton, Kwame Thomas and George Carline will hope to return to the starting XI while Corey O’Keeffe is likely to keep his place.
After a strong start to the season, it’s unlikely that Simon Weaver will change his starting XI too much – nine of his squad have started the opening five matches.
Opposition player to watch
As far as strikers go, Dominic Knowles has proven to be a pretty consistent one as far as Harrogate are concerned. His game time needs to increase but his 3 goals in 5 matches to start this campaign means he has now scored 24 goals in his last 36 appearances. That’s two goals every three matches. One to watch.
Previous meeting:
Harrogate Town 6-0 Solihull Moors
Our last meeting with Harrogate Town was a bad one. Warren Burrell scored a hat-trick, Lloyd Kerry, Paul Clayton and Joe Colbeck joined the scoring for a rampant Town side. Thankfully, it didn’t stop The Moors earning promotion to the National League as Champions.
Referee watch
Referee: Leigh Doughty
Leigh Doughty refereed in the National League North last season and impressed so much he was given the National League North play-off final: Harrogate Town beat Brackley Town 3-0 in that.
He refereed his first National League fixture last Saturday as Halifax Town beat Dagenham and Redbridge 2-1. He has never taken charge of a Solihull Moors fixture previously.
Assistant referees: Robert Wainwright & David Pill
Fourth official: Ian Johnston
Match prediction
Harrogate Town 2-2 Solihull Moors
Solihull Moors’ next 5 fixtures (National League unless stated):
27.08.2018: Wrexham (H) – 15:00
01.09.2018: Barrow (A) – 15:00
04.09.2018 – Leyton Orient (A) – 19:45
08.09.2018 – Hartlepool United (H) – 15:00
15.09.2018 – Dover Athletic (A) – 15:00
