SHAN’S JOY AT MOORS MAGIC BY SUB WARD
SOLIHULL MOORS boss Jimmy Shan paid tribute to the impact of former Northern Ireland international Jamie Ward, who came off the bench to bag a late equaliser. A Nathan Blissett goal just before the half-hour had handed the visitors the advantage against the run of play and it took the home side until seven minutes from time before they finally got back on level terms. Shan said: “Jamie gives you that forward threat and the ability to unlock in and around the area. “We were probably hoping that he would have another two or three sessions under his belt before today’s game and put himself in contention to start but we saw what Jamie is all about – a lovely clean strike. He has had a fantastic career and he’s a lovely technician. “We created some fantastic chances and I think when people look back and review those it will be a little bit of a sickener to not have converted at least two of those opportunities.” Moors certainly had the better of the early chances with Tyrone Williams having a shot cleared off the line before sending a powerful header over the crossbar from a corner. James Ball also went close with an effort that was blocked while visiting keeper Taye Ashby-Hammond had to push another effort on to the bar. But Moors paid for those missed chances on 29 minutes when keeper Ryan Boot failed to gather James Comley’s corner and Blissett slotted home against his former club. The striker thought he had doubled the lead soon after only for the effort to be chalked off for handball but the visitors continued to press early in the second half with George Wells twice going close, one of them from inside his own half after spotting Boot off his line. The equaliser came on 83 minutes and from another set-piece. A long Jordan Cranston throw wasn’t dealt with and Ward, who has chalked up more than 400 appearances for the likes of Derby County and Sheffield United, drilled home from the edge of the area. Three minutes later he had another effort that forced Ashby-Hammond into a decent save and the dying seconds saw fellow substitute Kyle Hudlin head over from six yards. Maidenhead boss Alan Devonshire said: “We are a bit disappointed. We had enough chances second half to kill the game off, didn’t, and they’ve got the late goal. “I’m disappointed with that but to be fair they could have been two or three up in the first half when we scored against the run of play. “We decided to have a go and it paid off to a point and we got a point and I’d have probably settled for that before the game.”