ARD TASK IS PASSED BY MOORS
FUNCTIONAL rather than fantastic was boss Neal Ardley’s verdict on Solihull’s fourth straight victory – not that he was fussed by how it came.
Onlookers might deem his assessment harsh after Andrew Dallas’s first-half double and a late rocket from Harry Boyes rewarded Moors for starving Maidenhead of the ball for much of the game.
Josh Kelly’s neat footwork and crisp finish seven minutes after the interval halved United’s 2-0 half-time deficit but the pendulum did not swing with the hosts composed throughout their time with the most slender of advantages.
“It was solid,” said Ardley. “They had their one chance and took it.
It was a turnover and a straight ball, we gambled with it and were disappointed because that made the next 25 minutes nervier than they needed to be.
“There was a solidity about us and that was pleasing.
“I didn’t think we were brilliant. We were decent in the first half and controlled the game and we ground out the second half from a leading position.
“It was nothing fancy but you just have to win your games at this stage of the season. No one looks at how you win them, it is all about the points total.”
Wide man Ryan Barnett, who tormented Maidenhead all game, caressed to the far post with Kyle Hudlin heading back across goal for Dallas to adjust well and volley home the opener.
Solihull truly stamped their authority from there and Dallas was picked out near the left corner of the box, twisting back in to drive inside the near post via a small deflection five minutes before half-time.
Moors started the second half well but got caught with a sucker punch, Kelly getting picked out on the left to run at Callum Howe, cut inside and fire high through the gloves of Ryan Boot.
Hudlin might have hit straight back, closing down keeper Nathan Ashmore who hesitated on the edge of the box only to whack the underside of the bar.
The hosts increasingly looked likelier to score as the game went on, though, and the points got wrapped up as the clock struck 90, pesky substitute Danny Newton stealing possession and feeding into the dash of full-back
Boyes whose deflected 25yard drive flew high inside Ashmore’s near post.
Maidenhead assistant manager Ryan Peters admitted: “The first half was not very good at all. When you allow a really good passing side to step on to you it is never going to bode well.
“We managed to tweak things at half-time and got a goal back but the third goal took the wind out of our sails.” ★★★★★