Hoops Earn Well Deserved Point to Knock Moors off the Top of the Table

Solihull Moors 3

Mafuta 19'

Newton 28'

Morrison 75'

Oxford City 3

Sanderson 12'

Parker 47'

Ashby 81'

A six-goal thriller was played out at the ARMCO Arena, with two second-half stunners from Josh Parker and Josh Ashby earning the Hoops a well deserved point.

The Hoops earned a 12^th minute lead through Olly Sanderson’s header, but the hosts ultimately went into the break ahead after Gus Mafuta and Joe Newton completed the first-half turnaround.

But another superb second-half display from the Hoops saw them take something from the game. Parker equalised just two minutes into the second period, with a fine finish from the edge of the box, and after Kyle Morrison regained the lead for the hosts, a stunner from distance from Ashby earned the Hoops a deserved point, and the extension of their unbeaten run to four games.

SELECTION

After the Bank Holiday Monday thrashing of Boreham Wood, Ross Jenkins made two changes to the lineup. Skipper Reece Fleet returned to midfield following the birth of his son last weekend, with Latrell Humphrey-Ewers dropping to the bench, while Tafari Moore was preferred to Aaron Williams-Bushell at right-wing back.

First-Half

City started brightly and Olly Sanderson looked particularly dangerous, as he burst through the Moors defence inside 5 minutes and could only fire over the bar.

Sanderson went one better though after 12 minutes as a well-rehearsed corner from the Hoops saw the ball delivered deep to the unmarked Lewis Miccio. His header back across goal left Sanderson with a simple header into the net to give City the lead.

But despite being second-best for much of the opening 20 minutes, the hosts levelled with a corner of their own.

Another one straight from the training ground, a low drilled corner towards the edge of the box was left by Kyle Morrison, allowing Mufuta behind him to drill home into the bottom corner.

The hosts enjoyed their best spell of the game, and continually put pressure on the Hoops. Set pieces were particularly dangerous, and City had a let-off just two minutes later as Richard Stearman volleyed over from six yards out.

The turnaround was complete just short of the half hour. Jay Benn’s cross found it’s way through to Joe Newton, whose shot from the edge of the box was just too powerful for Chris Haigh who couldn’t quite get enough on the ball to stop it going in.

The Hoops rallied for the remainder of the half, and may have equalised late on as a ball dropped to Ashby on the edge of the box, but his effort on the stretch didn’t have enough power to trouble Tommy Simkin.

Second-half

As we have seen so many times this season, the Hoops came out firing in the second-half, and may even have been level within 30 seconds of the restart as Sanderson charged down a defensive clearance to put him through on goal, but his left footed effort wasn’t powerful enough to beat Simkin.

But two minutes later, the Hoops did have their equaliser. Some good work from Parker saw him win the ball wide, he managed to work his way into the centre, and drilled a left-footed effort past Simkin into the corner of the net to level things once again.

City were on the ascendency and created the half’s best chances. Simkin’s poor clearance on the hour saw Parker one-on-one with the keeper, however the ball never quite settled for a shot and the Moors defence were able to clear.

Simkin was again forced into action once again on 73 minutes as a cross from the right found Parker again, whose flick goalwards required a fine save from the Solihull stopper.

This proved crucial, particularly as his side took the lead just two minutes later. A poor pass at the back allowed Josh Kelly to shoot on the edge of the box, forcing Haigh into a good save.

But the resulting corner was turned home by Morrison to break City hearts and see the hosts take the lead once again.

However, the Hoops weren’t to be disheartened, and went in search of another equaliser. Nya Kirby went close as his shot from distance stung Simkin’s hands.

But ultimately another poor clearance from the Solihull keeper saw the leveller. Wide in his own box, his left footed clearance fell to Ashby on the edge of the centre-circle, the City midfielder took one touch before firing a effort towards the open goal, which Simkin could not get back to as it flew past him and into the corner.

The Moors came closest to winning it after this as Jamey Osborne’s long range shot took a deflection off the City defence, and required a super save from Haigh who had to turn on the spot and get down to stop.

Neither side could find that winner in the six added minutes, with the sides having to share the spoils in the thriller of a match. 

City rose one place to 17th in the National League, while Solihull were knocked off the summit of the table, to 3rd.

Match Details

Official Attendance: 1,146 (68 away)

Solihull Moors Starting XI: 

Simkin, Clarke, Newton, Osborne, Morrison, Maycock (Craig 60), Beck, Warburton (Stevens 76), Mafuta, Stearman, Benn (Kelly HT).

Subs not used:  Owen, Hall

Oxford City Starting XI: 

Haigh, Burley, Miccio, Ashby, Kirby, Coyle (Williams-Bushell 76), Fleet, Sanderson (McEachran 70), Parker, Carroll, Moore (Harrison 88).

Subs not used:  Potter, Fonkeu