Solihull Moors 2-0 Maidstone United
National League
Match report from John Clothier
FOOTBALL: SOLIHULL Moors recorded a sixth home win of the season after beating National League strugglers Maidstone United 2-0 at the Automated Technology Group Stadium, reports John Clothier.
Liam McDonald’s side completed the double over Maidstone on a day when Moors were officially able to use their new Drain Tech stand which had been purchased from Saturday’s opponents.
The home side dominated the opening period with Shep Murombedzi driving a low shot narrowly wide of the post having taken a slight deflection on route, while George Carline’s cross was tipped over the bar.
With just seven minutes gone Moors took a deserved lead when Carline thumped the ball goalwards and Worgan could only parry the ball into Joel Kettle’s path and he smashed the follow-up in off the underside of the bar.
Harry White came close the doubling the hosts’ advantage as he bullied his way through the box but Lokko arrived just in time to prevent the shot.
Maidstone were dependent on breakaways and on 19 minutes they had their best move thus far as Paxman found Taylor on the edge of the box but his shot was brilliantly intercepted by Nathan Baxter, making his home debut in between the sticks.
Lokko headed an attempt wide of goal on the half-hour mark before moments later a perfect corner into the box by Sterling-James was met by Carline who sent a header past a luckless Worgan in the Maidstone goal.
The visitors almost made a quick response but Flisher’s goal-bound effort was thwarted by a perfectly timed block from Kettle as the hosts held a two-goal advantage after the break.
Sterling-James twice came close to scoring a third Moors goal but he sent a header wide of the target before seeing his curling corner on 60 minutes hit the upright before Harry White hit his follow-up wide.
Prestedge tried his luck from some 20 yards but was wide and White did likewise on 69 minutes but was agonisingly just over the bar.
A Stones corner resulted in Baxter saving from close range courtesy of substitute Karagiannis while the dangerous Simeon Maye dragged a pull back from Murombedzi across the goal.
Moors had Baxter to thank on 73 minutes as he saved point blank from Karagiannis after debutant Pigott headed back Loza’s cross while at the other end Jack Byrne’s through ball to White was inches wide.
Four minutes added time almost presented a third goal to the home side as Maidstone found themselves under a barrage of successive shots as they failed to clear but when Nortie Nortey entered the fray his effort was wide.
Another well deserved victory over their relegation rivals moves Moors up to 37 points ahead of Tuesday’s clash against Lincoln City.
Attendance: 1,003
Team: Baxter, Murombedzi, (Mwanyongo 90), Daly (c), Kettle, Flanagan, Byrne, Green, Maye, White (Rodgers 82), Sterling-James (Nortey 85), Carline
Subs not used – Lewis, Sammons.
