Match Report: Moors 1-0 Barrow AFC
Solihull Moors got their National League season up and running with a tense 1-0 win over 10-man Barrow at Damson Park.
Nat Ford came in for Max Metcalfe in goal, while Callum McFarlane replaced the injured Ben Wodskou in attack.
First Half
The opening period of the game saw Solihull pressing well, with both full-backs and the midfield in particular giving no time to the away side. One brief spell of pressure for the Moors led to Callum McFarlane getting a shot away inside the box, only to see the effort blocked by a Barrow defender.
Barrow's Seb Thompson's chipped cross from the left was just over the head of everyone in the area in their first meaningful attack of the game.
Jacob Wakeling was left in a heap on the floor after being on the end of a crunching challenge in the first 15 minutes, following a series of heavy Barrow tackles.
Tyrell Warren also went down under a strong challenge from Barrow keeper Ben Winterbottom, after Scott High had picked him out with a beautiful ball into the box.
Down the other end, skipper Alex Whitmore brilliantly blocked a dangerous shot from the edge of the box as Barrow looked to catch The Moors on the break.
Joe Sbarra played a lovely ball over the top into McFarlane, who sent Wakeling through down the left; the striker's square ball didn't quite reach McFarlane as he tried to find space in the box
Barrow's first proper effort on goal was courtesy of an effort from Mikey Lane, who combined well with Isaac Marriott to open up a space on the edge of the area; Lane's powerful effort was a couple of yards over the bar.
Some lovely build-up play from The Moors led to Cam Green firing a shot at goal from distance, Winterbottom parrying the ball out to Wakeling, who could only smash it into the side netting from a tight angle.
A thundering challenge in the box by Jamie Andrews prevented a strike on goal from Lane, who was beginning to cause problems for Solihull's defence.
Sbarra appeared to be dragged down in the box when attacking a cross; the referee waved away the appeals, much to the fury of Moors fans, who had seen a number of Barrow fouls go unpunished.
Isaac Marriott had a good effort for Barrow from 18 yards, Ford flying to his left to push the ball out for a corner.
43' RED CARD - Barrow. The ref awarded a second yellow card to MJ Williams after persistent fouling from the Barrow man. The resulting Solihull free-kick was hammered into the wall by Cam Green.
Second Half
Despite the sending-off just before half-time, Barrow started the second half brightly, forcing Whitmore into another flying block, before having a couple of half chances from a corner that eventually came to nothing.
Seb Thompson fired in an effort that Ford was grateful to see hit straight at him from long-range.
The Moors high press was nearly rewarded when Sbarra won the ball back in the middle of the park, setting Wakeling free on the right, before he broke into the box at pace, only to find keeper Winterbottom coming storming out to claim the ball bravely at the strikers feet.
Just before the hour, a good spell of Solihull pressure led to several good opportunities to have a shot on goal, with no one seemingly wanting to pull the trigger, despite being well placed. A few groans could be heard around the ground as tensions built the longer the game stayed goalless.
GOAL' 66 - Moors. As Solihull boss Chris Millington barked out "FORWARDS, FORWARDS" during some great build-up play, the ball was played out to Sbarra, taking the ball on the left, the midfielder's cross was laid across to Scott High, who bent a stunning left-footed effort into the back of the net with probably the most difficult chance of the evening so far for The Moors. 1-0
Immediately after the goal, more good link-up play between Sbarra and High saw Sbarra dink a wonderful ball over the fullback, with High's cross just evading his teammates in the area.
Into the last 15, Sbarra was racing onto a through-ball to put him in on goal, but teammate McFarlane, unfortunately standing in an offside position, took the ball out of our midfield maestro's stride.
With Whitmore down injured after a strong tackle in the Barrow half, the away side really should have scored, Alex Reid's shot fizzing inches wide when it looked as though he'd hit the back of the net.
Whitmore had to be taken off with the injury sustained moments before, and Jamie Andrews dropped in as a makeshift centre-back; his first action was to fire a monstrous clearance down the whole length of the pitch, falling to Sbarra, before the ball eventually landed at the feet of substitute Ben Worman, who shot harmlessly over the bar.
Barrow began throwing everything at The Moors backline as the game went end-to-end in the final 5 minutes. Jevon Mills, superb at the back all game alongside Whitmore, got a great block in to deny a great opportunity for the visitors.
Wakeling broke free and smashed into side netting with his right food, before he was then superbly denied a one-on-one when Barrow's Kennedy Digie timed his challenge perfectly. He then had another opportunity to add to his season tally, showing great strength to roll off a defender and break through two-on-one, with the striker opting to shoot rather than square to his team-mate, with the Barrow goalkeeper pulling off another tremendous save.
An absolutely heroic block from Jamie Andrews on 92 minutes summed up the resolute nature of The Moors defence as they threw bodies on the line in an effort to keep a clean sheet. Andrews again sweeping up and clearing another dangerous attack as that first win finally looked in sight.
In the final minute of a nervy injury-time, Nat Ford got down brilliantly to hold onto a rasping shot. Could today be the day?
Solihull manage to get the ball into the Barrow half and the referee blows the full-time whistle! HUGE relief as we get our first win of the season.
Full time - Solihull Moors 1-0 Barrow
Up Next:
Another quick turnaround as we head to Yeovil on Friday 18th September. 7:45pm kick-off. To purchase coach tickets for our trip to Somerset, please visit the link below -
https://solihullmoorsfc.ticketco.events/uk/en/e/yeovil_coach_away_travel_2627?version=m
There we go, Moors fans, we did it! Absolutely superb backing yet again from the home support to help carry the boys over the line, and an incredible effort from the squad and management team to come away with a first win and clean sheet. After an extremely testing campaign so far, the season starts now.
Sponsors' man of the match - Joe Sbarra
COYM!💛💙
Match Report written by Scott Cattell
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