Three Is The Magic Number

For a good hour or so Solihull Moors found themselves in the bottom four of the National League table for the first time this season. Survival out of our hands and a run of seven consecutive defeats looking very much on the cards when Chris Holroyd put Macclesfield Town ahead at Moss Rose.

Then three became the magic number. Wrexham scored three at York City, Torquay United scored three at home to Braintree Town and goals from George Carline, Jack Byrne and Regan Charles-Cook ensured Solihull Moors returned to the Midlands with a three-one victory and a crucial three points.

There was no questioning just how big this game was to our survival hopes. At a time of the campaign when momentum is key, Moors were on the wrong end of it. Victory at North Ferriby in mid March saw the Moors sit just a point behind top half Eastleigh and Boreham Wood and crucially ten points above the drop zone. Six games, four goals, twenty conceded and zero points later and we were level with 21st Braintree Town.

McDonald made three changes for this one. Andy Brown, Hafeez Sanusi and Nortei Nortey were brought out of the starting XI with Omari Sterling-James, Oladapo Afolayan and Ashley Sammons stepping into the fray. Kristian Green joined Joel Kettle in the centre of defence. A positive starting XI made more so by the return of Regan Charles-Cook on the bench.

It took a minute for Moors to show their mettle when Sterling-James’ long range effort was parried behind for a corner. Macclesfield Town have cemented a top half finish however and soon got into their stride, Joel Kettle deflecting Mitch Hancox’s effort wide before James Thorne fired into the crowd.

Danny Whitehead found top scorer Chris Holroyd who ought to have done better at the back post and the striker was left cursing when he beat Kristian Green only to fire wide. David Fitzpatrick’s shot was then flicked into the grateful arms of Baxter before Thorne charged inside only to miss the target again.

Ashley Sammons’ offered a small reprieve for Moors when Craig Ross was stretched to his bottom corner before controversy reigned right before the half-time whistle. Jamie McCombe’s back post header appeared to creep over the line as Baxter made the save yet with the keeper’s sizeable frame blocking the officials’ view they were unable to give the goal. Thank goodness for that.

It appeared to make no difference when two minutes into the second half the Silkmen took the lead and it was that man Chris Holroyd. Whitehead’s free-kick was teased to the near post where Holroyd was making his move to bullet home the header.

As was the case on Good Friday, the goal sparked Moors into life yet luck was appearing to desert us, Jack Byrne’s header thumping the bar.

Andy Brown replaced Harry White but it was the midfielder’s offering the goal threat, Sammons’ shot parried by Ross before Jack Byrne again hit the bar with a header when Carline flicked the ball into his path from a long throw.

On 78 minutes the moment finally came. Connor Franklin’s cross from the left fell kindly into the path of George Carline, the midfielder never likely to come out second in this battle. His header looped quickly over Ross and in an instant the game was Moors’ for the taking.

Eight minutes later and the 80 travelling fans were delirious. Ashley Sammons provided a typically pacey, whipped delivery right on the money for captain Jack Byrne who was leaped higher than Norburn to nod the ball into the far corner.

And as Macclesfield pushed bodies forward Moors killed the game off in the 93rd minute, Andy Brown flicking on Nathan Baxter’s goal kick for Regan Charles-Cook who was quicker than George Pilkington and nonchalantly poked the ball beyond Ross. Game, set and match.

Liam McDonald was delighted in the aftermath thanking everybody ‘who has supported the players and myself through a difficult time’ before proclaiming ‘that was for you’.

Crucially, Moors are now three points above the drop zone with two matches to play. The boys need our support Saturday so let’s get down there and help drive the club to safety.

What a victory!