NEWBY IS IN OLD ROUTINE
DIFFERENCE maker Alex Newby capped his permanent signing from Colchester United this week with the winning goal at the ARMCO Arena, leaving assistant manager Neil Sorvel hailing the impact of Altrincham’s blistering front four.
A finish tucked into the bottom-left corner of Nick Hayes’ net on 31 minutes proved decisive, on an afternoon when both sides racked up passing numbers, but were separated by one of many moments of attacking quality from the visitors.
As part of a long-standing duo alongside manager Phil Parkinson in the Moss Lane dugout, Sorvel and co. are looking for a third promotion in their seven-year spell at the Lancashire club.
And after climbing fourth, the Robins assistant says keeping star players has only benefited their promotion hopes.
“It’s imperative that we take points from the teams in and around us in the playoffs, so to take three points away from home is fantastic,” said the 50-year-old.
“The difference between this season and last season is being able to hang onto all four of those players, whereas we had to rebuild that last season.
“We know that if we give them the service nine times out of ten, they’re going to produce the goals we need.”
One of those shining lights, Justin Amaluzor, should have done better with a bright opening on two minutes that started with Chris Conn-Clarke’s raking pass from the halfway line, resulting in the 27-year-old floating past the far post.
Alex Whitmore demonstrated his aerial presence after Moors recycled a corner, but could not direct his header on target from deep.
Then, the breakthrough, Newby converting Amaluzor’s right-flank cutback for his eighth this term.
A second-half upturn in quality and chances should have seen the visitors double their lead after another Conn-Clarke pass sent through Regan Linney, but with the ball evading the onrushing Hayes, the forward was unable to stab into the net.
Linney twice threatened thereafter, trickling past the post before forcing a tame save after a determined run, while Conn-Clarke almost settled proceedings once and for all with a drive past the post that Hayes could only watch wide.
Despite a third match without victory, Solihull boss Andy Whing remained upbeat.
“Performance wise I’m really happy because we’ve been outstanding,” he said.
“We had a threeweek break that affected us because we were on a run of form, we’ve had a blip, but our performances have gotten better and better.
“The final pass isn’t going right for us at the moment but if we keep playing like that, results will come.”