FOOTBALL: SOLIHULL Moors slipped to a third consecutive defeat after three lates goals consigned them to an undeserved 4-0 thumping away at York City as Marcus Bignot’s side continued to adjust to live in the National League, reports John Clothier.
Despite two defeats earlier in the week, Moors took to the rain sodden pitch at Bootham Crescent ready to bounce back but their efforts took an early blow after conceding with just nine minutes on the clock.
Andy Brown had come within a whisker of getting on the end of a Connor Franklin cross before Aidan Connolly’s curling corner into the six-yard box was a perfect height for Richard Brodie to direct past Danny Lewis with his head.
Jack Higgins should have doubled the home side’s lead on 17 minutes but he headed wide of the target with the Moors goal at his mercy, while at the other end Ryan Beswick hit a Darryl Knights cross over the bar.
Brown headed wide on the end of another Knights cross before on the half-hour mark Beswick struck low from outside the box but it was deflected for a corner.
Lewis did well to grasp Connolly’s cross on 32 minutes and produced the first of several saves of the day as he palmed away Jack Wrights’ bullet from 25 yards out.
Brodie curled one over the bar before his header from another York corner was cleared off the line.
Moors finished the half on a positive note but Knights’ close range header from Franklin’s initial throw lacked power and was pushed away by Letheren.
York might have extended their lead on 50 minutes when Johnson crossed for Wright but his shot was woefully off target and substitute Daniel Nti curled an effort from 18 yards straight at Lewis.
Moors’ best opportunity of the match arrived just before the hour mark when Beswick struck for goal but Letheren was well placed to avert the danger.
The game turned into an end-to-end attacking encounter but the visitors struggled in the final third. Manager Bignot rung the changes on 72 minutes as Stefan Moore, Harry White and Omari Sterling all came into the fray.
But on 83 minutes York found a second when Connolly, who had been a danger all afternoon, seized on a loose ball in the 18 yard box and smashed it passed Lewis.
The Moors keeper did well to save from Connolly, Fenwick and Whittle but he could not stop York from scoring a third goal with one minute of normal time remaining as Felix crossed for Fenwick to score from close range.
And right at the death in injury-time York skipper Heslop’s pass split the Moors defence and Connolly rounded the stranded Lewis to calmly slot in number four.
It does not get any easier for Moors as they prepare for the visit of Dagenham and Redbridge this Saturday at the Automated Technology Group Stadium before travelling to Lincoln City next Tuesday.
Match photos courtesy of Steve Feeney
