JAMES BALL’s second-half goal was not enough to prevent Solihull Moors from slipping to a 2-1 defeat away at promotion rivals Bromley.
Ball halved the deficit on 71 minutes after goals from Scott Wagstaff and Michael Cheek had put the home side two-nil up at the break.
And Moors poor first-half showing would prove costly as they were condemned to back-to-back defeats in the league.
The result means Solihull drop to ninth in the National League table, two points outside of the play-off places, having played more matches than the three teams above them.
Bromley spurned a golden chance to take an early lead when Cheek dispossessed Ball only for Wagstaff to fire over from close range.
Moors were then denied at the other end when Ryan Barnett’s shot was superbly headed off the line by Bromley’s Chris Bush.
The home side took the lead on 36 minutes when Ball was robbed of possession by Wagstaff before he slotted an effort past Ryan Boot.
Neal Ardley’s side responded with a chance of their own as Adam Rooney shot straight at Bromley goalkeeper Mark Cousins.
However, Bromley doubled their lead in first half injury-time when Cheek tapped home from close range after George Alexander squared the ball into his path.
Moors increased the tempo after the break and should have pulled a goal back when Joe Sbarra played Andrew Dallas through on goal only for the forward to shoot wide when one-on-one with Cousins.
Full-back James Clarke then nodded inches wide after he rose highest before Moors eventually found a way back into the game.
Substitute Jamey Osborne delivered a tantalising free-kick into the box that was met by the head of Ball and nodded past Cousins from six-yards out.
And Solihull almost snatched an unlikely point when Danny Newton saw a header cleared off the line by Luke Coulson in the final couple of minutes.
Solihull are next in action away at Southport on Saturday, January 15 in the fourth round of the FA Trophy with kick-off at 3pm at the Pure Stadium.
