KYLE Morrison scored a dramatic 94th-minute equaliser to rescue a point for 10-man Solihull Moors in a 1-1 draw with Eastleigh on the opening day of the season.
Moors were heading for defeat until Morrison’s header at the back post levelled the game at the death after Enzio Boldewijn opened the scoring for Eastleigh at the ARMCO Arena.
Morrison’s equaliser came after Solihull’s on-loan defender Nico Gordon saw red for a second bookable offence in the final minute of regulation time.
And the result means Moors sit 15th in the National League table after one fixture.
Prior to kick-off, both teams came together for a minute’s applause in memory of former Moors president Trevor Stevens who died at the age of 79 last month.
Eastleigh made a strong start with former Moors striker Paul McCallum heading over before Boldewijn hit the post inside the opening 10 minutes.
Solihull’s on-loan stopper Tommy Simkin then made a good save to keep out Oscar Rutherford’s effort.
The home side’s best chance of the first half came just past the half-hour mark when Josh Kelly latched onto Mark Beck’s pass and saw a shot well-saved by Eastleigh goalkeeper Joe McDonnell.
However, the visitors took the lead on 55 minutes when Boldewijn met Charlie Carter’s cross from the left to head Eastleigh in front.
Moors went close to an equaliser as Morrison headed Jamey Osborne’s cross from the right against the outside of the post.
However, things went from bad to worse for Moors after Gordon was sent off after he received a second yellow card for pulling back an Eastleigh attacker.
Despite playing with a man light, the home side almost scrambled home an equaliser when substitute Callum Maycock turned the ball goalwards only for McDonnell to make a stunning reaction save.
From the resulting corner, Moors drew level as Morrison nodded home Joe Newton’s cross at the back post on debut to spark wild scenes of celebration.
Solihull travel to Ebbsfleet United for their next league fixture on Saturday, August 12 with kick-off at 3pm at Kuflink Stadium.
