TAHVON FIRES MERRY MOORS
IN-FORM Tahvon Campbell netted on his first home appearance for Solihull Moors as they survived a late scare from Hartlepool United to keep up their play-off charge.
Campbell, who joined from National League rivals Rochdale earlier this month, netted the opener on 20 minutes before providing an assist for Callum Maycock midway through the second half.
And while Callum Cooke scored late for Pools to set up a nervy finish, Moors boss Andy Whing was satisfied with the performance.
“I thought the lads were excellent; grit, determination, and we had to dig in at the end,” Whing said.
“We had lots of opportunities to kill the game off as well.
“But they are a decent side, top of the form table, and we knew it would be a tough test today.
“But I am delighted with the lad’s grit, determination, effort – I thought they were fantastic today.”
Joe Grey created the first chance of the game on 12 minutes, his crisp effort needing to be palmed away by Moors keeper Nick Hayes.
With their first real chance at the other end though, the hosts took the lead when Jack Stevens fired a low Jamey Osborne corner towards goal for Campbell to stab the home inside a packed six yard box.
Grey should have levelled things before the break when he span on the half way line and drove all the way into the Solihull box, but he could not bend his effort the right side of the post.
Joe Dixon was called into action quickly after the restart to keep out Stevens’
powerful back post header.
But there was nothing he could do to stop Maycock slotting into the bottom corner on 66 minutes after Campbell had produced a sublime backheel to slip the midfielder in.
On 75 minutes, Hartlepool found a way back into the game. Having already seen efforts from Grey and Emmanuel Dieseruvwe blocked, the ball fell to Cooke on the edge of the box who powered home.
Top scorer Dieseruvwe somehow failed to score from a hat-trick of headers – the closest of which tipped onto the foot of the post by Hayes.
Despite the result though, new Pools boss
Kevin Phillips remained upbeat.
“At 2-0, especially coming away from home, a lot of teams will just shrink and concede another, but we showed that fighting spirit and kept going,” he said. “We managed to get a goal back with that never-say-die attitude. Then big Mani saw his header hit the post and we nearly walked away with a point.
“We can argue whether we deserved it or not but it would have been a good point and a great end to an excellent week.
“Five more minutes we could have nicked one.” STAR MAN: Tahvon Campbell (Solihull) ATT: 1,545 ENTERTAINMENT: ★★★★★ REFEREE: Aji Ajibola