Solihull Moors 4-1 The Mikes

This was always going to be a difficult tie for the Mikes who have yet to achieve a consistent level of performance this season. On a perfect playing surface at Damson Lane Boldmere played a full part in an entertaining game for the 318 spectators but trailing to two goals by a former player the task was always going to be a bridge too far. The experienced Cameron Gayle and Simeon Tulloch were both unavailable due to work commitments being replaced by Brandon Williams and the returning Luke Shearer whilst Harry Sweeney started at left back to the exclusion of Kartel O’Neill Martin with Brad Lindsey returning to midfield. The home side included former Birmingham City players Darren Carter and Mitch Hancox whilst ex-Mikes striker Ryan Nesbitt led the line.

The opening minutes were evenly contested but when the Moors attacked loanee winger Josh Neufville threatened and Sweeney was to be given a tough evening. To be fair to the young full back he stuck gamely to his task throughout as did his colleague Williams on the opposite flank. Despite this it was Neufville who opened up the Mikes defence in the ninth minute for Nesbitt to fire home confidently from ten yards. Minutes later an equaliser almost arrived Shearer fed Owen Parry but the midfielders fierce drive from the edge of the box hit the bar and flew to safety. At the other end three solid strikes from the home forwards were blocked in quick succession after Lewis Fenney had made the first of several great saves during the match. Parry could maybe should have restored parity, when set up by Jack Storer, being foiled by Shaun Rowley whilst Shearer was just off target with another effort. As luck would have it minutes later the Mikes were two down Nesbitt grabbing his second with a left footed cross shot after Jakob Burroughs had misplaced a pass straight to the opposition when a good break threatened. Fenney came to the rescue again as half time approached whilst Williams was unable to get in a good strike following a mazy run into the box.
The second half followed a similar pattern, the home side looking the more dangerous on the offensive due to their greater cohesion and pace whist the Mikes stuck doggedly to the task in preventing any addition to the score. Young Jack Burgess replaced Brad Lindsey on the hour and was to play some neat football in the final half an hour. However, it was the hosts who added to their lead on 66 minutes, James Ball started and finished a left-wing sortie by firing past Fenney. A fourth followed some ten minutes later when Neufville seemed to wrong foot Fenney following a run across the edge of the penalty area. Declan Arber had replaced the tireless Jack Skinner prior to the goal and newcomer James Medford did likewise for Shearer after this fourth goal. Despite the score line Boldmere reacted well and Storer reduced the arrears with five minutes to go and Arber should have done better from ten yards when picking a loose ball following a Burroughs tackle.
Although exiting this cup competition, it was against a polished National League side, albeit made up of their fringe players and no doubt will have helped the new management team as they plot their thoughts for the months ahead.

The Mikes: Lewis Fenney, Brandon Williams, Harry Sweeney, Jakob Burroughs, Harry Craven, Joe Lyng, Jack Storer, Owen Parry, Jack Skinner (Declan Arber 67), Luke Shearer (James Medford )77, Brad Lindsey (Jack Burgess 59). Subs not used Harry Buttery, Kartel O’Neill-Martin