THE END of the season cannot seemingly come soon enough for Solihull Moors after they were thrashed 4-1 at home to Boston United in the Vanarama Conference North, reports John Clothier.
Boston arrived at the Autotech Stadium on Saturday on a run which has seen them achieve seven wins in their last nine games and knowing that if results elsewhere went in their favour, a win last Saturday would ensure their place in the play-offs.
Moors themselves have surfaced from a difficult second half of the season and still had a top ten finish to secure but despite having beaten their opponents earlier in the season this would be no walk in the park for the mighty Moors.
The hosts looked positive from the first whistle with Fleet blasting over in the second minute and then a sublime lob from Stefan Moore hit the cross bar.
However, at the other end Boston’s Dayle Southwell showed why he was the most likely striker to overhaul Omar Bogles’ amazing 29 goal tally as he fired wide of the upright.
Felix followed up with a solo run ending with his effort sailing just wide whilst Southwell forced Tony Breeden into a good save with only seven minutes gone.
Solihull weathered the storm playing some beautiful one touch football with Darryl Knights proving instrumental in the middle of the park and it was Knights himself who went close with a volley from a long Langdon throw.
Solihull were undone on 24 minutes when Southwell beat three defenders and drilled in a low shot from 18 yards to open Boston’s account.
As Moors fought back they failed to deal with a cross into their six yard area from Roberts which bounced over Langdon to the waiting Southwell who tapped in his second of the day.
Moore produced a fine save from keeper Stryjek as they searched for a way back into the match but they were fortunate with Breeden came a long way out of his area to see Liam Daly clear off the line.
With the pressure mounting Nottingham was adjudged to have hand balled in the box with five minutes of the half remaining and a grateful Southwell sent the spot kick just beyond the diving Breeden for a 15 minute hat trick and his third of the season.
With a minute to go before the break Knights rifled a cross into the visitor’s box and Ryan Beswick curled his header into the right hand corner of the net to give some hope for the second half.
Solihull were quickly into their stride from the restart with Fleet blasting too high from 25 yards and Beswick shot fractionally wide.
Knights forced Stryjek to parry his 12-yarder for a corner but just when it seemed their was still something in the match for Solihull Roberts let fly from 25 yards into the top corner of the net to extend Boston’s lead.
To their credit Moors heads remained high despite the impossibility of the situation with Beswick and Bogle both having chances whilst a fierce cross from Knights on twenty five minutes needed only a touch.
His subsequent corner was nodded down by Daly but Beswick’s finish went agonisingly wide. Substitutes Hayden, Gueyes and Nesbitt injected life into the team but there was no way back.
The win cemented Boston’s place in the play offs whilst Moors need to win next Saturday in their final game this season at Chorley to have a chance of finishing in the top ten. Southwell’s hat trick sees him one goal behind Omar Bogle for the leading goal scoring prize.
Moors striker Omar Bogle looks to create an opening. (s) Photo by Mark Bonelle
Jean Michel Gueyes and Zak Mill go head-to-head. (s) Photo by Mark Bonelle
Reece Fleet clears any danger. (s) Photo by Mark Bonelle
