Torquay United 3-0 Solihull Moors
Vanarama National League
Match report by John Clothier
FOOTBALL: IT WAS disappointing end to Solihull Moors’ first visit to Torquay United as secret weapon Keiffer Moore scored a hat-trick to consign Liam McDonald’s side to a 3-0 defeat.
Moors had looked strong in the opening 20 minutes as Jack Byrne shot wide while McGinty let Akwasi Asante through but as he unleashed an effort from just inside the box a good chance went begging as the ball slewed wide of the post.
Torquay’s first attempt came from Young receiving a pass from Moore but it was deflected beyond the post and Jamie Osborne fired goalwards from a Sterling-James flick but keeper, Brendan Moore was ready and waiting.
The hosts were starting to find their feet and on 24 minutes Kieffer Moore spotted Danny Lewis off his line and put in a dangerous lob just over the bar. Then with half an hour played the Gulls broke quickly from a Moors attack and Reid ‘s through ball found Moore in space as he shot past Lewis for the opening goal.
It was Moore again picking up a pass from Sparkes in the six yard area but Lewis got a touch for a corner and it was Lewis again saving with his body as Moore looked for number two.
Lewis was straight into action after the interval palming away a free kick from Young from just outside the box. Gallifuoco headed straight at the keeper from almost point blank range before Osborne in a repeat of the Torquay in the first half unleashed a 40 yarder which, with Moore on the ground, landed on the netting.
The tide turned, however with an hour played; Sparkes broke down the left and put in what looked like an innocuous cross but Moore was straight in and got the better of Lewis in the air ending with a simple nod in.
Harry White had replaced Asante, and Darryl Knights was on for Sterling-James as Moors looked to salvage something from the game but any hope of that disappeared on 71 minutes as Moore’s diving header from yet another cross from Sparkes, sealed his hat-trick and Torquay’s victory.
With minutes left Reid hit wide from the edge of the six yard box, Blissett was thwarted by Lewis and the Moors shot stopper denied Young as he palmed away a low shot.
A disappointing defeat where for an hour it looked anybody’s game. As with the Barrow game on Saturday two goals arrived from crosses into the box which Moors could have dealt with better. Fortuitously all the pack in the lower half of the league failed to win and Moors drop one place as Torquay overtake them on goal difference.
This Saturday Solihull take on North Ferriby United, second from bottom in the league at the Automated Technology Group Stadium. Kick Off is at 3.00pm. Then on Tuesday 29th November its another visit to the seaside as Moors travel to Southport hoping for a repeat of the 4 – 0 victory earlier in the season. K.O. for that match is 7.45 pm
