MOORS got their home pre-season schedule off to a perfect start after beating League One outfit Swindon Town 3-1 at the Autotech Stadium on Tuesday night.
A decent sized crowd turned up to check out Moors’ seven new signings this summer, while Swindon themselves sent a strong squad up to provide a stern test for Marcus Bignot’s new-look squad.
And despite the heavy rain, the pitch was in perfect condition on a night where Bignot used all 22 squad players to his disposal.
Moors dictated the opening minutes without worrying the visitors but right from the outset the back four of English, Street, Daly and Franklin looked uncompromising.
Swindon’s Michael Smith was blocked with his ten-yard effort while on 10 minutes Darryl Knights’ shot from 25 yards was stopped only at the second attempt by keeper Belford. Smith was adjudged offside with a one-on-one with Danny Lewis, while Liam Daly was rock solid as Swindon poured forward.
It was Knights who broke the deadlock on 18 minutes when he robbed Williams of the ball on the edge of the box and coolly side-footed into the bottom right-hand corner of the net to put Solihull ahead.
Theo Streete went close with a low header before Keeper Lewis foiled Swindon with a good save from a 20 yard shot by Smith.
However the Moors shot stopper could do nothing on the half-hour mark as Storey picked up a through ball and rounded the keeper for a simple tap in to equalise
Just as Swindon seemed to be in the ascendancy Akwasi Asante picked up a poor clearance and before Belford could move the ball was in the back of the net as Moors regained the lead.
Walker then went wide as he hammered the ball from the 18 yard line and as Solihull pushed forward Gaz Dean was ideally placed for a speculative effort which caught Belford by surprise and the keeper mishandled it into the net to send Moors in at half time 3-1 to the good.
With eleven new players on the pitch it was a very different Solihull side that started the second half but they still managed to pick up where they left off as Stefan Moore found himself offside with the keeper to beat 12 minutes into the second half.
While with half an hour left Jack Byrne was unlucky from the edge of the box.
Andy Brown leading the attack but it was Moore who went close with a fine save from Belford.
Paul Bignot looked comfortable on the flank whilst Ryan Beswick was quickly into his stride spraying the ball from midfield.
Byrne took every opportunity to strike goalwards but in truth the finish in front of goal lacked the bite of the first half.
A 3-1 victory over League One opposition was clearly satisfying for the manager, his players and the supporters and although it is still early days, the new squad looks to have considerable potential which Bignot will seek to build on with the visit to Barwell tonight (Thursday) and at home to Mansfield Town on Saturday.
