SOLIHULL Moors were denied promotion to the Football League after Neal Ardley’s side suffered an agonising 2-1 defeat in extra-time against Grimsby Town in the National League play-off final.
Moos went ahead on the stroke of half time through Kyle Hudlin’s header only to be pegged back in the second half by John McAtee.
And both teams squandered chances to win the game in regulation time before Jordan Maguire-Drew struck at the back post to end Moors’ promotion dream at London Stadium.
Solihull survived an early scare in the capital when Joe McLaughlin saved well after a long throw deflected off Hudlin towards Moors goal.
However, Ardley’s side settled down quickly and almost opened the scoring when Callum Howe headed narrowly wide from a corner.
And Moors went even closer soon after when Andrew Dallas’ deflected shot was superbly saved by Grimsby goalkeeper Max Crocombe.
The Mariners then saw two penalty appeals turned away before Harry Clifton spurned a golden chance at the back post.
And the deadlock was finally broken in first-half injury time when giant striker Hudlin timed his jump to perfection to head home Joe Sbarra’s floated cross from the left to give Solihull the lead at the break.
Grimsby improved after the interval and drew level on 69 minutes when McAtee finished across goal into the bottom left corner from Andy Smith’s pass.
And, after Solihull saw appeals for a penalty for a foul on Dallas turned down, Town almost snatched a winner at the death when McAtee poked inches wide.
The game’s decisive moment arrived on 111 minutes as Dallas inadvertently flicked Jordan Cropper’s long throw to the back post where Maguire-Drew was waiting to turn the ball home from close range.
Despite missing out on promotion to the Football League for the first time in their history, Moors can look back on a remarkable season with great pride as they try and go one better next season.
