Solihull Moors 3
(Kelly 37′, Howe, 45+1′, Beck 56′)
United 2
(Marshall 3′, Collins 74′)
Solihull Moors came out on top against United on Tuesday evening, as they came from behind to emerge 3-2 winners at the ARMCO Arena.
Ross Marshall’s early strike gave The Gulls a near-perfect start, however the game was turned on its head by the break, as goals from Josh Kelly and Callum Howe gave the home side an interval advantage. A third from Moors’ Mark Beck after the restart left Gary Johnson’s men with plenty to do, and although the dismissal of Moors’ Jamey Osborne, coupled a Lewis Collins goal, set up a grandstand finale, United couldn’t quite snatch the equaliser their efforts deserved.
Manager Johnson made two changes to the starting XI that drew 1-1 at Aldershot on Saturday, with Ryan Hanson and Kevin Dawson replacing Aaron Jarvis and Brett McGavin, who was a late drop-out during the pre-match warm-up.
There was barely two minutes on the clock when United went ahead. A deep free-kick wide out on the left was curled in towards Tope Fadahunsi, and although the Gulls striker wasn’t quite able to steer the ball home himself, Marshall was on hand to apply the finishing touch by steering his header into the back of the net.
Looking to get back on level terms as quickly as possible, Torquay had goalkeeper Mark Halstead to thank for keeping them in front on 17 minutes.
After breaking down the left flank, the ball was played back outside the box for James Clarke, who sent in a shot that Halstead watched diligently, before tipping the ball over his crossbar.
United’s No.1 could do nothing to prevent the leveller twenty minutes later though.
Another foray down the left saw the ball squared for Kelly, and after being afforded a little too much space, the Solihull man calmly drilled his shot home to make it 1-1.
In the dying stages of the first period, The Gulls fell behind.
With a probing ball into the box causing United’s backline plenty of problems, the woodwork initially came to their aid by keeping out Howe’s header, however with the same man acting quickest to the rebound the Solihull skipper pounced to make it 2-1 at the break.
There was plenty of drama in the early stages of the second half too.
Despite Torquay craving an early equaliser, instead they fell further behind on 56 minutes.
A rampaging run from Mitchell Roberts on the overlap set alarm bells ringing, and after he delivered a pacy ball across the face of goal, it was left to Beck to slam home the loose ball from close range to leave The Gulls with a mountain to climb.
Moments later though, the game was back in the balance, as the home side were reduced to ten men, as Osborne received a second booking for a rash challenge.
Spurred on by that, Torquay threw caution to the wind in search of a goal to reduce the arrears, and with sixteen minutes left, they pulled one back.
With the men in white forward in numbers, Evans’ ball picked out Collins by the penalty spot, and with the aid of a deflection, the ball edged past Moors goalkeeper Ryan Boot, and into the net.
3-2 and time to save themselves.
The final stages of proceedings saw the action switch from end to end at regular intervals, as United’s bid for a leveller was tempered by Solihull’s efforts to finish the game off.
Tom Lapslie’s determined run into the box nearly brought about a late, late, leveller, but with Johnson’s men committed to attack, The Moors were equally threatening at the other end, with the lively duo of Roberts and Kelly doing their bit by sending United back towards their own goal as time ticked away.
The final whistle ultimately signalled disappointment for the travelling Yellow Army, after a evening that had started so well.
All thoughts now turn to Wealdstone at Plainmoor on Saturday.
Solihull Moors: 1. Ryan Boot, 2. James Clarke, 5. Callum Howe (c), 6. Alex Gudger, 7. Joe Sbarra, 8. Callum Maycock, 10. Jamey Osborne, 14. Josh Kelly (22. Joey Jones, 85′), 15. Mitchell Roberts, 17. Justin Donawa (24. Leo Wood, 90+2′), 27. Mark Beck (18. Tom Whelan, 66′).
SUBS NOT USED: 28. Finn Howell, 32. Jevon Mills.
Yellow Card: Boot 76′
Yellow Card / Red Card: Osborne 29′, 59′
United: 1. Mark Halstead (c), 4. Tom Lapslie, 6. Ross Marshall, 7. Ryan Hanson, 10. Tope Fadahunsi, 11. Kieron Evans, 15. Ben Wyatt (5. Ali Omar, HT), 16. Shaun Donnellan, 19. Nico Lawrence, 28. Kevin Dawson (3. Dan Martin, 89′), 31. Lewis Collins.
SUBS NOT USED: 12. Jacob Mensah, 22. Rhys Lovett, 23. Ollie Tomlinson.
Yellow Cards: Dawson 53′
Attendance: 1,210 (125 away)