IT’S A FIVE STAR SHOW ONCE AGAIN FOR MOORS
FREE-SCORING Solihull Moors netted five for the second home game in a row as they boosted their goal difference against nine-man Altrincham.
The Robins started the better side but a goal from Andrew Dallas – who struck all five in last week’s 5-0 win over Dover – and an early red card for Kevin Berkoe turned the game on its head.
In-form Dallas doubled his tally before half-time, with goals from Jamey Osborne, Callum Maycock and Ryan Barnett and a second red in stoppage time compounding Altrincham’s misery.
And it was the manner of the defeat that was most worrying for Robins boss Phil Parkinson.
“This is the lowest point I have ever hit in any moment in football,” he said.
“The way we capitulated in the first half was so disappointing. We showed no resilience, which we have done when we have lost elsewhere this season.
“After the sending off the discipline, the concentration and the organisation were non-existent.”
Alty came out flying as Ryan Colclough hit the post with a powerful drive from outside the box as Solihull struggled to settle.
But when Dallas fired a left footed strike through the arms of Anthony Thompson on 18 minutes the Moors took control.
Berkoe was sent for an early shower midway through the first half for a rash tackle on Maycock before the hosts doubled their lead on 26 minutes when Osborne fired home from outside the box.
Minutes later, James Clarke fought off four Altrincham defenders at the byline, steering the ball to Dallas to poke home for his 11th goal of the season.
Solihull then put the result beyond doubt just before the break when Harry Boyes drove into the box and left the ball for Maycock to slot into the bottom corner.
Dallas was denied his third hat-trick in four games by Kennedy Digie who got back to clear off the line after the Solihull striker poked the ball between Thompson’s legs just after the restart.
But substitute Barnett found the back of the net with nine minutes to go as he dribbled his way past five Altrincham defenders to blast the ball into the bottom corner.
The Robins were then down to nine when substitute Matty Kosylo was shown a red for an elbow on Mark Ellis in time added on.
“I was disappointed with the way we started the game, but in the end the goals were good and we showed our threat,” said a satisfied Moors’ boss Neal Ardley. “You have to out run, out fight the opposition and we did that.
“We were concerned going to the new year that we needed to create more clearcut chances, but we couldn’t have asked for much more.”