Boreham Wood 0 – 3 Solihull Moors
Sunday 15th May 2022
LV Bet Stadium Meadow Park, Vanarama National League
WOOD END SEASON WITH DEFEAT
Goals from Kyle Hudlin and Joe Sbarra at both ends of the first half along with a late penalty from Adam Rooney meant Boreham Wood rounded off a memorable 2021/22 campaign with a 3-0 defeat at the hands of promotion hopefuls Solihull Moors.
The hosts gifted all three goals to their opponents as Hudlin made sure Dave Stephens’ paid for an early foul when he headed the subsequent free kick past Nathan Ashmore after just 14 minutes, with Sbarra pouncing on a loose ball half-an-hour later to double the lead with a clinical finish on the stroke of half time. Rooney added a third from the spot after Alex Gudger was pulled down in the box, cementing Solihull’s place in the National League’s top three, while a fourth successive game without victory means the Wood end the season in ninth place.
There was a place on the bench for Femi Ilesanmi for the first time since October following his injury layoff, but Luke Garrard named an unchanged starting XI from their defeat at Grimsby Town last time out and saw them have the better of things early on.
Tyrone Marsh slid Dennon Lewis in behind after just three minutes with his low shot across goal whistling just wide of the far post, shortly before Jacob Mendy Mendy won possession in the middle of the pitch before driving at Solihull’s defence and winning corner, with the resulting delivery floating towards an unmarked Dave Stephens at the back post who will have been disappointed to not take advantage of an excellent chance, with his volley back across goal being fired just wide.
Solihull quickly began to control proceedings, with Will Evans clearing Callum Howe’s header off the line from a Harry Boyes corner. Boyes proved to be a menace for the Wood defence early on, and it was his delivery which gave the visitors the lead. Hudlin was played in behind and got in a tangle with Stephens who was booked, with the subsequent free kick being flicked on towards the striker at the back post who headed Solihull in front.
Nathan Ashmore would have to be at his best for the first time in the afternoon to deny Callum Maycock, before clawing Sbarra’s strike away from the top corner minutes later, with the midfielder getting a second bite of the cherry that saw him fire over the bar.
These chances would come either side of an golden opportunity for the hosts, with fellow goalkeeper Joe McDonnell keen to better his opponent in the opposite goal. Lewis found space to square it to Marsh who backed into the defender and laid the ball off to Gus Mafuta right in front of goal, but his shot could only produce an excellent save from point blank range.
Solihull would punish the Wood on the brink of the interval, as a hospital pass in a dangerous area allowed Sbarra to pounce before slotting the ball beyond Ashmore to double their lead going into the break.
HT: Boreham Wood 0-2 Solihull Moors
The visitors continued their dominance after the interval with Sbarra involved once more, playing an exquisite pass to send Hudlin down the right who delivered a cross towards Andrew Dallas in the middle, but he was unable to get the desired contact as it bounced off him under pressure from Evans.
This was followed by a rare opportunity for the Wood to pull a goal back, as Lewis sent a cross from deep towards the far post where Marsh headed onto the roof of the net.
However Solihull put the game to bed with 15 minutes to play after Gudger was fouled in the box, with substitute Rooney making no mistake to convert the spot-kick with his first touch of the ball.
Two late chances saw Marsh try a speculative effort from distance that McDonnell was able to easily gather, before Solihull gave the ball away in a dangerous area with the ball eventually falling to Lewis, but he couldn’t keep his cross down as it went out for a throw-in on the other side of the pitch.
Three minutes was added on at the end of the second half and brought enough time for Danilo Orsi to be flagged offside after pouncing on a loose ball in the box that required McDonnell to recover quickly, along with the long-awaited return of Ilesanmi to get a couple of minutes under his belt that saw him fire a late shot into the North Bank, before the referee brought a halt to proceedings for the final time this season.
HT: Boreham Wood 0-3 Solihull Moors
Boreham Wood: Ashmore, Evans (Ilesanmi 90’), Stephens, Comley (Clifton 57’), Smith, Mafuta, Raymond, Mendy Mendy, Marsh, Boden (Orsi 35’), Lewis.
Subs not used: Ashby-Hammond, Smith.
Solihull Moors: McDonnell, Clarke, Howe, Gudger, Boyes, Storer, Maycock, Sbarra (Reilly 79’), Barnett, Dallas (Newton 73’), Hudlin (Rooney 73’).
Subs not used: McNally, Ellis.
Star Man: Frankie Raymond.
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