Brave Solihull Moors bow out of FA Trophy after Grimsby defeat - The Solihull Observer

Brave Solihull Moors bow out of FA Trophy after Grimsby defeat

Solihull Editorial 23rd Dec, 2015 Updated: 21st Oct, 2016   0

SOLIHULL Moors put up a brave fight but were eventually knocked out of the FA Trophy after losing 3-2 away at Grimsby Town in their First Round replay on Tuesday, reports John Clothier.

Ten days after the epic 1-1 draw at Blundell Park, Moors again faced National League pace setters Grimsby Town in yet again soaking conditions on a slippery surface.

Marcus Bignot played only six of the team who beat AFC Fylde the previous Saturday whilst Grimsby boss Paul Hurst made nine changes to the team that started in the 1-0 defeat of Dover with eight of those featuring in the first tie.

Alabi, on loan from Ipswich, had the ball in the net after ten minutes but was well offside while former Moors striker Bogle was unlucky to see his drive from the 18 yard line hit the inside of the right hand post.




Moors goalkeeper Ben Siegrist made a great save as Alabi shot through Gaz Dean’s legs leaving the keeper precious little time to see the ball.

Connor Franklin was badly crunched by Alabi at the mid-way point in the half and had to be helped off the pitch in considerable distress to be immediately taken to hospital.


Junior English was straight on as Moors re arranged their formation but Alabi quickly drilled another shot well which was saved by Siegrist and on 38 minutes Alabi put Bogle through only to be denied by a point blank save by Siegrist.

Akwasi Asante ran through to meet Armson’s through ball but keeper McKeown raced out to avert the danger and the last action of the half saw Bogle shooting wide under pressure from Dean before Jack Byrne was booked for a lunge on the ex-Moors striker.

The second half saw Jordan Gough introduced for his comeback after six months out through injury but the visitors were almost in front when Bogle slipped past three defenders and unleashed a 20-yard bullet which narrowly cleared the crossbar.

Just before the hour mark Adam Walker’s curling corner kick required all of McKeown’s agility to prevent Moors taking the lead and Asante’s deceptive cross brought out another interception from the Mariners shot stopper as Solihull piled on the pressure.

The deadlock was broken on 63 minutes when Asante got on the end of a good move down the right and his pinpoint cross fell to the feet of Armson who drilled a low shot home from 15 yards to put Solihull one up.

But chants from the home support of ‘we’re going to Wembley’ were premature as within a minute Grimsby were back on level terms as Bogle was gifted a free header and from six yards out he made no mistake.

Two minutes later Moors went behind as Alabi was fouled in the box by Gavin Cowan and he duly converted the penalty.

If that was not bad enough on 68 minutes the impressive Mackreth came in from the right before unleashing an unstoppable shot into the top of the far corner and the hosts were now 3-1 down.

It might have been worse had  Marshall’s bicycle kick not been wide but to their credit Moors went looking for a way back and with ten minutes left Solihull’s nemesis, Bogle, clearly handled the ball in his 18 yard area and Mr Eaton immediately pointed to the spot. Asante stepped up to drive the ball into the corner of the net.

But despite their best efforts Moors were unable to find an equaliser in the four minutes of added on time.

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