FOOTBALL: SOLIHULL MOORS avoided relegation to the second tier of non-league football after defeating Eastleigh 2-0 at Damson Park on Saturday.
The result means Moors are five points clear of the drop with just one fixture remaining this season – an away trip to Guiseley this Saturday.
Prior to Moors’ game against Eastleigh, Liam McDonald’s side were one of seven clubs who could join Southport and North Ferriby in the National North or South next season.
However they finished it as the only club to have secured their position in the Vanarama National league for next season.
Moors started the home fixture on the front foot as Oladapo Afolayan almost forced his way into a one on one with just two minutes on the clock.
Moors took the lead in the 11th minute when Regan Charles-Cook got onto the end of Jack Bryne’s pass to launch a stunning right foot shot into the stop corner of the net from 25 yards out.
At the other end Odoffin, who would be the visitor’s best player throughout this game, put in a shot which sailed over Baxter’s cross bar.
Solihull then doubled their tally in the 22nd minute when George Carline forced a corner from which Sammons found the waiting Byrne.
A dink into the 6 yard box saw Simeon Maye out jump Barnes and head home for Moors’ second goal.
With Moors dictating play, Omari Sterling-James went close again on the half hour mark as he hammered goal bound from the edge of the box.
Sterling-James continued his form into the second half with two efforts.
A turning shot from 20 yards out rattled the underside of the bar before a further effort on 55 minutes went clear of the far post.
Moors keeper Baxter then comfortably dealt with a free kick from Ben Close and Constables low 20 yard shot.
Liam McDonald then brought on Harry White for the tiring Afolayan on 70 minutes, just seconds after Hoyte had thwarted yet another Sterling-James opening as the Moorsman closed in for a one on one with Barnes.
Charles-Cook hit the side netting having dribbled his way down the right flank and Carline hit wide after a good through pass from White.
Andy Brown was next off the bench as he replaced Sterling-James – joining White up front with Eastleigh generally pinned down in their own half.
With Charles-Cook hobbling, McDonald’s final substitution handed academy star Josh Endell his first taste of senior football.
The result will have a huge bearing on whether Guiseley survive – and if they do it could well be York City who make the drop.
