The ARMCO Arena, Damson Park, home of Solihull Moors based in the West Midlands and play their trade in the National League. Formed only 14 years ago after a merger between Solihull Borough and Moor Green to become one! Starting in Step 2 of the non league pyramid back then and here they are now in Step 1 and knocking on the door of the Football League! Their metal will be tested today as they face another promotion rival in Stockport County which promises to be a cracker!
But first, it’s a trip into Birmingham City Centre and… What’s this here? Winterlandia!! A lovely little Christmas market bar here!! Don’t mind if I do! 1 Helles later and now for Solihull. A 30 minute drive later and here I am! £15 to watch this National League promotion battle! Class! Kick off looms closer and then… YouTube Groundhopper Will is here along with his dad who I met at Chasetown earlier this year!! Fantastic!! “BLUE ARMY!” Stockport fans are going for it already!
Kick Off! 3 minutes in and Solihull come forward down the right wing, it’s played across the edge of the box to Adam Rooney, he plays it to Joe Sbarra who shoots first time… Just over! Good start by Solihull.
“Ally Ally Ally OH! SCFC! We’re the blue army!” Stockport fans haven’t stopped yet!! 13th minute and Stockport have a corner, “HI HO COUNTY! COUNTY HI HO!” Just like York City fans! In comes the corner… Flicked on at the near post… Over everyone and wide, but it’s come off a Solihull player and it’s another corner, in it comes… Stockport get it down… Solihull get there and force a goal kick.
18 minutes on the clock and Solihull win the ball back in midfield, it’s played through to Joe Sbarra down the left flank, he plays it into the box towards Adam Rooney on the volley! He doesn’t get enough on it and it goes wide. “Oh when the Moors go marching in!” Solihull fans are alive!
1 minute later and Stockport have a corner, in it comes… It comes to Will Collar at the far post, he beats his man and he’s in… OFF THE BAR!! It’s another corner… maybe it didn’t hit the bar… It must have been a great block but I was adamant that was the woodwork, in comes the next corner… Stockport win the header… But it’s over.
24th minute and Stockport come down the left wing, it’s crossed in and here’s Paddy Madden with the header!! Great save by the keeper but it falls into the path of Scott Quigley… OH! Brilliant double save there! Solihull clear the danger. “Ole ole ole ole! Stockport! County!”
The game has slowed down considerably with both teams enjoying spells of possession but Stockport are growing stronger as the game goes on and their fans have still not stopped singing all game! 42nd minute and Ollie Crankshaw drives forward for Stockport, he gets to the edge of the box and he shoots… Keeper parries it and it goes straight to Paddy Madden! OH! Another brilliant double save by the keeper! It’s out for a corner, played short, the cross comes in… It comes to Paddy Madden at the far post who heads it back across goal… It’s headed in… The flag is up! It won’t count! 0-0 at half time…
Second half, 47 minutes and Ollie Crankshaw has the ball on the right for Stockport, he plays it across low, Scott Quigley is there and he must score… OH! It’s an incredible goal line block from James Clarke but the ball is loose… Solihull survive! One of the best goal line saves I’ve ever seen at a game before!
“Ally Ally Ally OH!” SCFC!” Stockport fans have been fantastic so far! 51 minutes now and Mark Kitching has the ball on the left for Stockport, he plays it across low… The keeper gets there and holds it, he’s had a great game so far! 1 minute later and Solihull come up the other end, Josh Lundstram finds himself through on goal with only the keeper to beat… He can’t beat him as the keeper saves his shot and Stockport clear.
2 minutes later and Solihull have a throw in on the right wing, it’s played to Jamey Osborne who cuts onto his left foot on the edge of the box and shoots… He’s hit the bar!! What a goal that would have been!! 3 minutes later and Stockport down the left side again, crossed in and it’s Scott Quigley with the header… Over! What a few minutes that was! This game has sprung into life after a poor spell!
“We’re the County the mighty County! We always win away! A win away a win away!” To the tune of In the Jungle! That has to be one of the best chants I’ve ever heard! 63 minutes now and Stockport have another corner, in it comes… Comes to Ash Palmer who brings it down and plays it across… The shot is blocked and here comes Ollie Crankshaw to blast it… OH! He’s hit the bar! It’s out for a goal kick. It’s looking like one of those days for Stockport…
72 minutes on the clock and Stockport play down the right flank, it’s crossed in, Paddy Madden is there with the header… It’s there!!! They’ve got it!! The header loops over the keeper who can do nothing about it and Stockport have a deserved lead!
“NAAA NA NA! NANANA NA! NANANA NAAA! COUNTY!” 80th minute and Ryan Barnett breaks free down the right hand side, he plays it across the middle for Joe Sbarra to shoot… Blocked! Stockport clear their lines. 85th minute and Solihull are searching for the equaliser now! Andrew Dallas is played through in the box, down he goes… “Dive!” Says the Referee. Not sure for me, you see them given… Yellow Card! Solihull continue to press in stoppage time here… But the Referee blows for full time! A roar of relief from the Stockport end!
FT: Solihull Moors 0-1 Stockport County
Ratings
- Atmosphere: 6/10 – The Stockport fans were some of the best I have come across and were singing and bouncing all game!! Fantastic from them! Solihull fans sung a little bit but nowhere near as much as the Stockport fans!
- The Ground: 8/10 – A very unique ground! A proper high end non league ground! The first non league ground I have come across to have double tier and an executive box! I like the standing terraces behind both goals, the opposite stand had gaps in the middle and it would look better if it was just one single long stand but I can’t be too critical, as a facility it is a great ground!
- Expense: 10/10 – £15 for a cracking game in the end!! Plenty of chances especially in the second half! Only one goal but I’m not bothered one bit! For entertainment value it was fantastic!
- Overall Experience: 9/10 – Great to see Will here again today!! A great game and an enjoyable day here today!!
33/40
To watch Will’s video click here