Solihull Moors fell to a 2-0 home defeat to Barrow AFC, on a
windy day at the AutoTech stadium. Goals from Andrew Burns and Paddy Lacey
secured a deserved victory for the Cumbrian visitors in a low key, end of
season game.
Moors were forced to defend deep early on, as Barrow
dictated the tempo. They played some intricate football with midfielder Sam
Sheridan, previously of Stockport, often at the centre of things. While the
hosts dealt with what was chucked at them in the air, they struggled to get to
the second ball and lacked composure at times.
Solihull Moors’ first attempt of note came fifteen minutes
in. A long throw from journeyman centre-back Exodus Geohaghon, currently at his
seventeenth different club, found Richard Taundry, who fired wide from range. The
versatile Taundry, a graduate of the successful Walsall academy, then picked up
an injury shortly afterwards, to be replaced by midfielder Jay Denny.
That change briefly sparked the hosts into life, and they began
to get forward with more ambition than in the first twenty minutes. Dior Angus
managed to win one or two free-kicks in dangerous areas, and Barrow were
relinquishing control. Moors still lacked quality on the ball, however. Whenever
the forwards got the ball in advanced positions, they struggled to hold it up
effectively, and were at times isolated. A sharp, neat exchange of passes
between right-back Alex Dean and Jay Denny was a more memorable moment in a
difficult half for the hosts going forward.
An injury to Omar Bogle did not help the cause of Marcus
Bignot’s side, and Bogle was replaced by the stocky Gary Birch. Birch’s
technique was very good for this level, he linked play quite nicely, and you
got the feeling he could be playing in a higher league if he had more pace. The
first half looked to be petering out, after a scrappy ten minutes. Barrow had
other ideas, and epitomized this period in play with the opening goal. A cross
from the left led to a dramatic scramble in the six-yard box, before right-back
Andrew Burns tapped the ball in to put Barrow in front. A very scrappy goal, in
what was at that point a scrappy game of football.
A half-time lead for the Bluebirds was justified. You would
not have guessed that Darren Edmondson’s men were without a win in seven before
today, because they had played much the better football, and kept the ball with
ease. While Barrow have one of the better defensive records in the Skrill
North, they do have a relatively young side. A 6-0 home loss to Gainsborough
earlier in the season, and throwing away 4-2 injury-time lead against Boston
United a few weeks ago, suggests they are vulnerable when put under pressure.
Unfortunately, Solihull Moors failed to apply it.
The home side were slightly improved after the break,
though. Michael Taylor won a free-kick just outside the box after a very
dangerous challenge from the offender, who was not even booked, much to the wrath
of the home fans. The free-kick was fired over the bar from striker Dior Angus,
who had one of his less productive afternoons. Moors were upping the tempo and
created a few more set piece situations which, given the lack of physical
threat in Barrow’s defence, might have proved fruitful. In truth, Moors struggled
to test goalkeeper Tony McMillan, and came closest when Gary Birch headed over
the bar from Jay Denny’s corner.
Barrow fired a couple of warning signs at the other end. Jas
Singh had to deal with a snap shot from Liam Willis, and shortly afterwards, he
was called upon to tip over Robbie Williams’s acrobatic effort.
But with the score at 1-0, the hosts had their best chance
of the match, and one which could have changed the game. A high ball from
captain Rob Elvins was chased down by Michael Taylor, who managed to find
himself one-on-one with the goalkeeper, but his effort was diverted behind for
another Moors corner.
It came as a surprise when Barrow doubled their lead. Shortly
after the visitors moved to a 4-4-2 system, a cross from Niall Cowperthwaite
was put away by Paddy Lacey, arriving in the box late from midfield. That goal
killed the game off and led to a rather flat final quarter of an hour,
enlivened only by a man running onto the pitch wearing a horse mask, in
reference to the Grand National weekend.
It was a victory that Barrow deserved, as Solihull Moors
failed to impress on this occasion. There were spells, particularly in the
second half, when they put Barrow under pressure. Ultimately, it did not happen
often enough, and when it did, they could not test the keeper. Barrow can take
heart from their first half display, and their ability to remain organized in
the second. As not the most physical side, they were able to withstand the
aforementioned Moors pressure, and in possession they looked a lot more assured
than the hosts.
The result does little to change the dynamics of either
side’s season, as both clubs are in line for a midtable finish. Barrow end
their winless run, and ahead of the summer, Darren Edmondson may be looking to
use the remaining few games to assess his squad, which he inherited just four
months ago. A poor run of form for Solihull Moors continues, as their promotion
ambitions a few months ago seem a far cry from their current position, ten
points off the play-offs. Marcus Bignot’s side have won just four games out of
a possible seventeen since the turn of the year, and will be without key man
Ryan Beswick until the end of the season.
Inevitably, going to watch a sixth tier team means seeing a sizeable
drop in the standard of football – or a minor one if you’re a Birmingham City
fan. But by sacrificing that, you can get a day out watching a football match, where
there’s change for a twenty pound note at the end. Furthermore, being able to
stand or sit next to the pitch, hugely enhances the match-day experience. £4.50 for any season ticket holder at a Midlands club is a
more than reasonable price, so a game at the AutoTech stadium is always worth
the trip.
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