FOOTBALL - Hudlin late show hands Moors impressive win at Grimsby - The Solihull Observer

FOOTBALL - Hudlin late show hands Moors impressive win at Grimsby

Solihull Editorial 23rd Mar, 2022   0

SOLIHULL Moors boss Neal Ardley believes his players can achieve “anything” this season after Kyle Hudlin’s late show secured a 2-1 win away at Grimsby Town.

Hudlin came off the bench to haul Moors level with a close range effort on 78 minutes before scoring a towering header on 89 minutes to snatch all three points.

That came after Harry Clifton’s 43rd minute strike put Grimsby ahead only for 6ft 9in striker Hudlin to steal the show with his first career brace at Blundell Park.

And the result means Moors sit fifth in the National League play-off places, five points clear of the chasing pack with a game in hand.




Ardley said: “We’ve got a small squad, we only had 15 outfield players available for this game, we’re a tight knit squad – this group can do anything they want to do.

“The message at half time was ‘don’t go two-nil down’ then we got to around 65 minutes and we though now’s the time to take a risk.


“We put Andrew Dallas on and Kyle Hudlin on and we changed to a diamond to try and chase the game – equalised and then changed back to a 4-4-2 but kept the two strikers on the pitch and it paid dividends in the end.

“How many times do we have to talk about Ryan Barnett as well? His ability to cross on the run is frightening, his cross was inch perfect and we’re probably critical of Kyle’s heading for someone who is 6ft 9in but he did great with that one back across the goal and down.

“We’ve got some really tough games but we’re coming through the challenges so far and hopefully the boys can take some momentum and belief from it.”

Moors started brightly when Lois Maynard headed over from a corner before Harry Boyes’ driven effort was pushed away by Grimsby goalkeeper Max Crocombe.

However, the Mariners took the lead against the run of play when Clifton poked the ball past Ryan Boot at his near post from Gavan Holohan’s pass.

And Clifton almost doubled his tally for the game early in the second period when his low effort came back off the post.

Ardley introduced Hudlin just past the hour mark with Boot called into action to keep out John McAtee’s shot with his feet at his near post.

Moors came close to an equaliser when sub Dallas glanced a header inches wide from Boyes’ teasing cross.

And Solihull eventually found the leveller when Hudlin was on hand to finish from close range after Dallas’s initial effort had been saved.

There was still time for Hudlin to grab the winner when he planted a downward header back across goal and past Crocombe from Barnett’s inch perfect cross.

Solihull are next in action away at Woking on Saturday, March 26 with kick-off at 3pm at Kingfield Stadium.

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