Team News

The welcome news for Moors fans was the return of Adam Rooney to the squad. The striker taking his place on the bench for his first matchday involvement since the start of December.

New boy Kyle Howkins came straight into the team for his first start since joining on loan from Newport County earlier in the week.

Howkins was one of three changes made by Jimmy Shan following Moors’ FA Trophy exit to Aldershot Town on Tuesday night.

Jamie Ward replaced Joe Sbarra as one of the two attackers behind lone striker Kyle Hudlin and Callum Maycock came into the midfield as Stephen Gleeson dropped to the bench.

Minute by Minute Match Report

Moors struggled to get hold of possession early on with Dover looking spritely in the opening exchanges, in particular, Akheem Rose was lively.

But the host's bright start didn’t translate into any threatening passages of play with new man Howkins and the Moors defence containing the Whites well.

As for the visitors, Hudlin was making a nuisance of himself, taking any opportunity to apply pressure and charge down the clearances of Dover’s debutant goalkeeper, Oliver Webber.

The Moors also looked dangerous on the counter with Cameron Coxe his usual marauding self, driving down the right-wing, an early cross narrowly evading James Ball at the far post.

In particular, Coxe was linking well with Ward who was dropping off and picking up space in front of the home defence.

And it was Ward’s corner that led to Moors’ opener, Nathan Cameron climbing highest to nod past Webber at the far post. Cameron capitalising on Webber's reluctancy to claim the set-piece and powering his header home.

Moors’ first chance had ended up in the back of the net and it handed a belief to Shan’s men who started to dominate.

With Hudlin leading from the font, Moors began to close down with a revived tenacity and Ward in the number 10 role was starting to pick the passes.

The two combined shortly after, Hudlin ran onto Ward’s through ball but keeper Webber was quick off his line to push the forward wide and then save from Hudlin's follow up.

Hudlin then forced Webber into a low save down to his near post after a neat one-two with midfielder James Ball.

But Dover weren’t out of it by any stretch however Moors were able to limit their hosts to pot shots from distance, nothing to trouble Ryan Boot in the visitors’ goal.

In fact, the Whites failed to register a shot on target during the first-half and Moors were well worth their 1-0 lead going into the break.

HT: Dover Athletic 0-1 Solihull Moors

Moors started as they’d finished the first, aggressively closing down the hosts, not letting them sit on the ball or retain possession.

Then on the break, Hudlin made it two. First, he sprayed the ball out wide, Ward’s cross ricocheted off Ball and fell invitingly to the striker who couldn’t miss from a yard out.

It was the 20-year-old’s fourth goal in five starts for the Moors, the big man continuing to make the transition from Midland League Division Two football look seamless.

He almost had the opportunity to double his tally, found by Jordan Cranston in the middle but his effort was well crowded out by the home defence.

And he was then involved in Moors’ next promising attack, joining up with substitute Sbarra whose cut-back narrowly evaded Hudlin in the centre of the area.

It was all Moors and despite there being over 20 minutes to play, a Dover comeback looked unlikely, Andy Hessenthaler’s side unable to gain any impetus.

The visitors were comfortable and Shan took the opportunity to give Rooney some welcome minutes off the bench, a great sight for Moors fans to see the striker return.

On his comeback, Rooney looked lively against a tiring Dover defence, a clipped cross was dangerous but the Whites cleared their lines well.

Dover did rally late on and Boot was finally tested, Hanson’s ball into the box, well dealt with by the Moors keeper.

Whites substitute Travis Gregory had injected some life into the hosts but Cameron and Howkins on debut stood strong to keep the threat at bay.

It was a spirited effort from Hessenthaler’s men but it proved too little too late as Moors stood firm to claim a well-earned 2-0 away win.

The victory sees Moors move into the play-off places, into seventh, one place above Notts County, who Moors welcome to the SportNation.bet Stadium on Tuesday night.

Shan’s side will entertain their Midlands rivals following back to back league wins and will have high hopes of registering a third victory on the bounce.

FT: Dover Athletic 0-2 Solihull Moors