Solihull 2
(Dallas 33’, Sbarra 48’)
United 1
(Lolos 80’)
United succumbed to their first away defeat of the new campaign as Solihull Moors ran out 2-1 winners in the West Midlands.
The hosts took the lead midway through the first half with Andrew Dallas driving a well-struck shot into the top left corner before Neal Ardley’s side doubled the advantage through Joe Sbarra early in the second half. United battled on and in the 80th minute Klaidi Lolos struck to make it 2-1, however Gary Johnson’s side were unable to grab an equaliser.
Johnson named one change in the starting line-up with Gabby Rogers coming in for Armani Little; new signing Alex Addai came straight in on the bench.
United nearly took the lead inside the first minute as a mistimed clearance by Ryan Boot was blocked by an advancing Danny Wright which saw the home side scramble to clear the danger.
There was a lot of end-to-end play in the opening stages of the game before Solihull were denied by the woodwork twice in the space of three minutes. In the 7th minute Justin Donawa’s shot ricocheted off the right-hand post before Dallas’ rebound effort was saved by Mark Halstead. On the ten-minute mark a low cross found Danny Newton on the edge of the box whose effort hit the bar.
That pattern of play continued for the following ten minutes, with no clear-cut chances for either side.
In the 26th minute Connor Lemonheigh-Evans drove into the box before his resulting shot was blocked by the Solihull defence.
It was the home side who broke the deadlock in the 33rd minute. Dallas fired his shot from the edge of the box into the top left corner.
United continued to press towards the interval and came close to an equaliser in the 40th minute. Lemonheigh-Evans drove through the middle of the Solihull defence before playing the ball out to Chiori Johnson on the right, his cross found Wright in the centre whose glancing header was saved by Boot.
Both sides had goalscoring opportunities in the closing stages of the first half. In the 44th minute Sbarra sprinted through the United half before driving his effort just wide of the right-hand post before in stoppage time Lemonheigh-Evans’ shot on target was deflected out of play.
The hosts came out of the blocks quickly in the opening stages of the second half and a second goal for the Moors came in the 48th minute. Dallas ran at the United defence and was able to play the ball forward into the box for an advancing Sbarra who was able to tap home.
Gary Johnson’s side weren’t deterred and continued to push forward. In the 54th minute Johnson and Ben Wynter combined on the right flank to create an opportunity for Dan Holman who from the edge of the box forces Boot into a save. One minute later from outside the box Rogers curled a shot just wide.
New signing Addai announced his arrival immediately after coming on, he got a shot away on target but Solihull managed to block and clear the danger.
United broke through in the 80th minute; a Moxey long throw caused chaos in the Solihull box. The Moors defence tried to head clear but the ball fell for Addais whose first-time hit was blocked before the rebound found Lolos who drove a powerful low shot past Boot to make it 2-1.
United looked to have won a penalty with three minutes to go when Lemonheigh-Evans went down under a challenge in the Solihull box, however, despite heavy protests from the United camp, the only action the referee took was to book United’s number 7 for simulation.
United continued to hunt for an equaliser but the home side managed to hold on in the latter stages to keep the three points in the West Midlands.
Solihull: 1. Ryan Boot, 3. Jordan Cranston, 4. Kyle Storer, 5. Callum Howe, 6. Alex Gudger, 7. Joe Sbarra (James Ball 76’), 8. Callum Maycock, 17. Justin Donawa (Tyrone Williams 90’), 19. Andrew Dallas, 23. Matt Preston, 24. Danny Newton.
SUBS NOT USED: 9. Adam Rooney, 14. Harry Boyes, 25. Lois Maynard.
TUFC: 1. Mark Halstead (23. Marcin Brzozowski (HT’), 2. Ben Wynter, 5. Ali Omar, 7. Connor Lemonheigh-Evans, 8. Asa Hall (c), 9. Danny Wright, 14. Chiori Johnson (19. Klaidi Lolos 62’), 17. Gabby Rogers, 21. Dean Moxey, 30. Dan Holman (Alex Addai 62’), 31. Joe Lewis.
SUBS NOT USED: 3. Dan Martin, 16. Keelan O’Connell.
Yellow Cards: Lemonheigh-Evans (89’), Lewis (90+4’)
Attendance: 1232