Solihull Moors Women returned home for the final game of the season looking to end their season the way they opened it. However, despite Lyndsey Ross-Baker’s first goal for the club, it wasn’t enough for the home side as they slipped to their first defeat at the Abacus Lighting Community Arena this calendar year.

It all started well for Moors as they took the lead in stoppage time at the end of the first half following Ross-Baker’s smart run and lethal finish at the near post. But the classic game of two halves was the undoing of the hosts as a double from Khan and a tap-in for Saxton in the second 45 was enough for Belles to take all three points on the final day.

Team News

Tom Blaymires made three changes to the side that earned victory at Peterborough United a fortnight ago. Megan Donohoe returned between the sticks as Jodie Whiteman was recalled by Coventry United earlier in the week. Our second change saw Charlotte Leedham drop to the bench replaced by the returning Cheyanne Jarvis and the final offing saw Ellie Danilewicz come back into the eleven to replace our youngest ever player Katie Jamieson.

The Match

It could have so easily been the start that Blaymires’ side craved as well. Zoe Creaney slotted Lyndsey Ross-Baker away down the right-hand side, she got there just ahead of the keeper but didn’t quite have the power on it to convert as the defender raced back in behind her shot-stopper to clear off the line.

Just five minutes on the clock and Moors were asking questions of the Belles defence. Ross-Baker was found in space, she collected the ball before laying it off to Annie Highway, who had time to shape up what she had in mind and that was to hit an effort from 35 yards out that went just over the bar as Moors continued to probe.

Despite all the possession and control of the game for Moors, a lapse in concentration at the back so nearly gift-wrapped the opening goal. Lauren Breen was found in behind the Moors defence before taking aim, but she could only drag her effort wide of the mark from 13 yards out.

Just two minutes later, Donohoe was called into action for the first time. Sophie Scargill managed to find room and manoeuvre herself to force the shot away, but the Moors keeper stood strong and got down well to palm away.

On 42 minutes, Moors thought they had taken the lead and would have if not for a goal-line clearance. Ellie Bruton delivered a pinpoint ball into the area from the corner that was met by the head of skipper Creaney who planted a powerful header back across goal only to see the defender on the line to hack away to safety.

Would there be time for Moors to go in with a deserved lead?

Well…

With just moments left of a superb and dominant opening 45 for the home side, Moors broke the deadlock and Belles’ restraints. Emmalee Hornsby found Ross-Baker in space down the right-hand side, the lightning quick winger got there ahead of the keeper and had the composure to lethally smash it home at the near post as Moors went in ahead at the interval.

Half-time: Solihull Moors Women 1-0 Doncaster Rovers Belles

At the break, Doncaster brought on an inspired substitution. It was evident for all to see as she was involved inside the opening ten minutes of the second period as they threatened to equalise early on. Nadia Khan managed to find Saxton out in space on the Moors left, she cut in and fired an effort that was too hot to handle for Donohoe, she could only parry back into danger. The rebound fell invitingly for substitute Khan who drove the shot back in but was pushed out for a corner by Moors’ young keeper.

It was 1-1 on 64 minutes though as Khan dragged her side back into the contest. Having not given up on the loose ball, she won it and then cut in with one-touch only to whip a peach into the top right-hand corner in which Donohoe could do nothing about.

Just two minutes later, Moors were furious with a controversial decision. Having seen Creaney go down with a blow to the head, the referee waved advantage to Belles who had the ball, Saxton slid Sophie Brown through on goal, but she could only hit her effort wide of the post to spare Moors’ anger from growing.

With just 21 minutes remaining, Moors continued to move the ball with purpose and so nearly had their reward for a brilliant counter-attacking move. Ross-Baker was causing chaos for the left-back of the away side, she twinkled her way past the defender and slid the ball to Tiana Russell-Cartwright who played in-turn played Charlotte Leedham through on goal but was forced wider than she would have liked. She still had the confidence to cut in and strike but only at the keeper.

Heroics to say the least as the game was getting stretched! Brown did ever so well to skip away from a few challenges and just as she pulled the trigger, Bruton was across in the nick of time to make a stunning last-ditch tackle to deny the hosts from going ahead.

But seven minutes from time and Belles’ patience was the key to unlocking the Moors defence. Saxton was the player alert to the situation. Sophie Bell got her cross in from the right-hand side, and it came through a host of bodies to find Saxton – who couldn’t miss from eight yards out to complete an unlikely turnaround.

On 86 minutes, Moors were inches away from an equaliser at the Abacus Lighting Community Arena and sending the home crowd into raptures. A teasing ball in from Cheyanne Jarvis was missed by the keeper and Creaney came storming in at the far post but saw her header smash the upright and somehow couldn’t be converted from the rebound.

But with one minute left on the clock, Belles wrapped up the three points with another peach from Khan. Jenna Roberts cleared the ball all the way to the halfway line, only to see the first contact come from a Doncaster head, Khan then lumped one forward from 40 yards out which just looped all the way over the top of Donohoe and into the back of the net to set off wild scenes in the Doncaster technical area.

Full-time: Solihull Moors Women 1-3 Doncaster Rovers Belles

In the final post-match interview of the season, Assistant Manager Dean Farrington took the time to reflect on what a magnificent job the coaching staff have done along with all the hard work from the players to transform the club’s fortunes and keep them in the National League for the 2022/23 season.

Solihull Moors Women: Donohoe (GK), Harmison (Price 53), Roberts, Bruton, McFadden, Danilewicz (Jamieson 76), Creaney ©, Hornsby (Russell-Cartwright 53), Jarvis, Highway (Leedham 61), Ross-Baker.

Subs not used: N/A

Attendance: 97

Player of the Match: Shannon McFadden

Report and Image: Paul Hasker