It was a Boxing Day to forget for Solihull Moors as they were beaten 5-0 by an in-form Wrexham AFC side at the Racecourse Ground. Defeat means it’s now seven matches at the ground without a victory and the afternoon was made worse by a second-half red card for captain Kyle Storer on what was his 200th appearance for the club. Let’s take a look at how the afternoon unfolded…
Starting XI
Manager Neal Ardley made five changes from the side that beat AFC Telford United in mid-week. James Clarke returned to the eleven, replacing Ethan Vaughan. Elsewhere, Joey Jones, Alex Gudger, Andrew Dallas and Ryan Barnett also all returned to the starting eleven in what should have been a stronger line-up. The Moors were hit with a double concern with both Ben Coker and Joe Sbarra missing the game through injury.
Starting XI: Ryan Boot (GK) ; James Clarke, Callum Howe, Alex Gudger, Fiarce Kelleher ; Kyle Storer, Callum Maycock, Joey Jones ; Ryan Barnett, Josh Kelly, Andrew Dallas (4-3-3)
Subs: Louie Moulden (GK), Callum Whelan, Justin Donawa, Bartosz Cybulski
0’ Kick Off - Wrexham AFC 0-0 Solihull Moors
The opening exchanges were very quiet in all honesty, but that isn’t entirely surprising given both sides love to have spells on the ball. Therefore, both sides enjoyed plenty of early possession but neither created any clear-cut opportunities nor did they test their opponents defences either.
In fact, it took thirteen minutes to see the games first chance when a long-range effort from Jacob Mendy was spilt by goalkeeper Ryan Boot and the rebound fell to in-form striker Paul Mullin. However, Boot was up almost immediately to deny the striker brilliantly from close range, but this in reality was foreshadowing the events that were about to play out.
The next 25 minutes were once again quiet, with neither side creating any sort of clear opportunity on goal. This played better into Solihull’s defence to begin with, but as we entered the final minutes of the first half, the game changed completely. This was because Wrexham began creating chances. Firstly, Paul Mullin did brilliantly to create some space from close range, but he dragged his effort wide of the target.
Solihull’s first clear cut chance arrived after 43 minutes when Andrew Dallas found some space on the left-hand side, but despite doing all the hard work, his effort went well wide of the target in the one and only Chance we managed to create in the opening 45 minutes.
One minute before the break Wrexham took the lead and deservedly so. Ollie Palmer got the better of the Moors back-line and fired an effort past Ryan Boot to give the hosts the lead.
Half Time - Wrexham AFC 1-0 Solihull Moors
Being one-nil down at the break in what was a very tough and action less first half, Solihull failed to make an attempt on goal and within eight minutes Wrexham doubled their advantage. This was through their star man Paul Mullin who fired past Boot to make it two.
The chances continued to come for Wrexham in what seemed like a relentless display from Phil Parkinson’s side. Ollie Palmer was inches away from grabbing his second of the game from close range. Ryan Boot was then called into action once again to deny Paul Mullin in sensational style to keep the score at two.
Unfortunately, Solihull Moors’ afternoon then went from bad to worse when captain Kyle Storer was sent off for a late challenge on what was his 200th career appearance for the Moors.
Unsurprisingly, within eight minutes Wrexham had added a third goal when Aaron Hayden struck past Boot in what was turning into a very ugly afternoon for Neal Ardley and his men.
Despite a double change with Cybulski and Donawa coming on, Solihull couldn’t prevent a fourth goal from arriving after 77 minutes. Mullin continued his standout performance by slotting home his second of the afternoon to make it 4-0.
Within three minutes, Mullin completed his hat-trick in fine style to make it 5-0 to Wrexham. It was a nightmare afternoon for Neal Ardley’s men and on another day it could have been six or seven for Wrexham. The defeat definitely causes Ardley some problems, especially with the reverse fixture happening on New Years Day.
Full Time - Wrexham AFC 5-0 Solihull Moors
Man Of The Match
In what was an afternoon to forget for any Solihull Moors fan or player, for Wrexham their players could have played for another 90 minutes. By scoring a hat-trick, the man of the match has to go to Wrexham’s Paul Mullin. He could have had five goals on another day and was denied brilliantly on two separate occasions by Ryan Boot, who despite conceding five goals could have been our best player of the day. Time to learn and move on quickly…
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