Ten Men Moors Courageous In Defeat

Since thumping Southport on BT Sport, Solihull Moors have found themselves fighting against the division’s biggest and best outfits.

Aldershot Town had lost only once at home, to Forest Green Rovers, before the visit of the Moors and duly returned to winning ways. Tranmere Rovers are under new management and undoubtedly the biggest oufit in the division, a 3-0 victory was what many would have predicted.

If Moors thought they had gotten away with it, Forest Green Rovers came next, top of the division and with a superior goal difference to others in the division. Nobody has scored more goals, only Tranmere have conceded less. The task of toppling the division’s most fluent outfit was written off even by those in yellow and blue at the Autotech.

With six changes made to the team, it was clear that Marcus Bignot was not only being fair to those in need of a game time but also that the boss valued a victory in Braintree Town as more likely and more important.

Franklin, Murombedzi, Beswick, Sterling-James, Osborne and Brown were removed from the fray. Lining up in a 4-4-2 diamond system, Gough returned at left-back, Byrne was flanked by full debutants Jones and Dielna in midfield with Knights at the tip of a diamond behind White and the returning Asante.

This was a star-studded outfit for Conference level they were being pitted against. Darren Carter played years of Premier League football with Birmingham City and West Bromwich Albion until injuries curbed his promising career. Liam Noble was a key figure for both Carlisle United and Notts County during spells at both clubs, Sam Russell and Dale Bennett have been regulars for Forest Green during this decade. Add to that the talents of Fabien Robert and Drissa Traore, that Rhys Murphy was on the bench despite 9 goals in 15 for Crawley Town in League Two last term and the menacing figure of Charlie Clough was in defence and it’s easy to see why Mark Cooper has them firing at the top of the league.

The visitors went about dominating the game from the kick-off in possession. Wishart and Bennett were busy in wide areas, Carter and Noble controlled proceedings with Traore breaking up play behind them and Robert providing the spark in front of them. The midfield were bright throughout.

In spite of the above, it was Moors that had the first chance with Jack Byrne firing a low effort straight at Russell from 25 yards as Moors showed grit, determination but also a little bit of attacking flair at times. Joel Dielna tried his luck shortly after and the hosts were certainly going to give as good as they got when in forward areas. Attacking forays may have been rare but they were positive and Moors certainly had the better of the chances.

Forest Green cranked up the pressure. Noble’s shot was deflected wide, Moore’s effort was punched clear by Russell and Danny Lewis was forced into a tremendous save at his bottom corner when Noble’s free-kick looked destined to enter the net.

Fabien Robert was looking a classy act in the attacking third with his quick feet and agile frame but his game was ended by a fair but crunching challenge from Dielna who must have felt quite pleased with himself knowing he wouldn’t have to face up to Robert no more. A way to make his mark on his full debut.

Before the half-time whistle Moors ought to have gone ahead. Having pressed all half to stop Forest Green creating too many clear cut chances, Ethan Pinnock was put under pressure and Knights took advantage. Yet as he ran through under pressure, he shot straight at the on-rushing Russell when the goal was at his mercy. Huge chance.

Liam Noble set his sights again in the second half but his free-kick flew narrowly wide of Lewis’ goal. Dielna shot wide before Keanu Marsh-Brown, who replaced the injured Robert, nearly provided a rendition of his play-off final goal. Then came the blow.

Wishart was regularly open on the left-hand side as the visitors moved the ball from right to left throughout and this time he made it count, his low cross from the left diverted into the back of his own net by Daly as Lewis flew out to collect. A huge blow and a harsh one too. In a game that was going the way of genius or mistake to gain a goal it proved to be the latter.

Moors did not surrender. Darryl Knights took made the most of a poor first touch after fine work from Harry White down the right hand-side only to volley into the outstretched arms of Russell. Kieffer Moore could have put the game to bed only to fire at Lewis. Jones and Dielna were replaced by Franklin and Murombedzi before Daly almost put into his own net again, thankful of Lewis’ reflexes.

With just under 10 minutes to go, a scrape in the middle of the pitch left Forest Green with an even bigger hand to play. Jack Byrne was aggressive with Kieffer Moore and needed to be with the size difference. When Knights saw his chance of getting the ball he stamped down aggressively then the Moors number 11 was seen to push Moore in the face. Knights appeared unhappy at the way Moore had thrown his studs up and it was difficult to make a conclusion as to what was going through the minds of both. Bennett, a loose cannon with his mouth, was in the midst of things while Byrne found himself moving bodies away to protect his team-mate. The referee had no choice but to show the red card in the direction of Knights.

The game wasn’t over. Doidge and Marsh-Brown almost found second goals for the self-proclaimed ‘little club on the hill’ before Akwasi Asante could not quite stretch his foot far enough to poke home, the ball agonisingly dropped wide of the far post. That was the moment and as the 919 fans watched closely, heads turned away in agony and elation depending on your colours. Those in green were celebrating as the referee blew his whistle for the final time.

Marcus Bignot was proud and rightly so. This was a huge performance and his team had performed beyond themselves to come so close to a point that would have shocked the division. Unfortunately it wasn’t to be.

Starting XI: Lewis 8; Fagbola 6, Daly 6, Koue Niate 7, Gough 7; Jones 5, Byrne 5, Dielna 6; Knights 5; White 6, Asante 5