FOOTBALL: MOORS boss Mark Yates revealed Oladapo Afolayan match winning brace against Maidenhead could secure his spot in the first team.
Afolayan goals helped Moors record a 3-1 win at home on New Year’s Day, lifting the club off the bottom of the National League table and moving them seven points short of safety.
It was Moors’ second win on the spin after Yates’ men beat relegation candidates Barrow 2-1 away from home.
The timely wins came as a major boost to the Solihull camp, which will now prepare for tough trip to table topping Macclesfield Town on Saturday.
Yates said: “I’m especially delighted that we’ve come from behind in both games.
“We’ve shown a lot of character, play well and finished well.
“It’s a massive three points for us. I said before the game that Jermaine (Hylton) and Dapo (Afolayan) needed to come to the party.
“They were part of a front three against Tranmere that caused all sorts of problems.
“We’ve all seen Dapo score goals and his record says that he will score goals, but it hasn’t happened for him while myself and Tim (Flowers) have been here.”
Yates described Afolayan’s brace as a ‘relief’ for him and said it came at a time where Yates is looking at strengthening his side.
“He knows that with myself and Tim in charge he has to work hard to stay in the team,” said Yates.
“We’re trying to bring in some better players to this club to help us survive, help us grow as a club and build the team.
“All we ask is that he plays like he did today with endeavour, end product, goals but also willingness to work hard for the team.”
Monday’s win marked the second time in three days that Moors came from behind to snatch a win from the jaws of defeat.
Without the six points earned over the New Year fixtures, Moors would be a gut wrenching 13 points short of safety with only 18 fixtures remaining.
But they now stand a shot at escaping the drop, and Yates was impressed with his side’s determination.
He said: “I don’t feel like we’re a group that are trapped at the bottom of the table, even though two weeks ago we might’ve been.
“I see a group that are fighting for each other, are fighting for the shirt and the club and they’re making every game competitive.”
Yates didn’t rule out a shock result against Macclesfield at the weekend either.
He said: “We’ve let in five goals in 10 games since we’ve been here, so the boys are doing something right.
“Their competitive edge and work rate is right up there and it’s important we continue that.”
