Leamington 0 Solihull Moors 1: Brakes are spared as Moors leave it late to underline the gulf between top and bottom

Laim Daly makes his presence felt at the back post. Picture: Sally Ellis

And while Leamington could count themselves unfortunate to have lost out to Gloucester and Altrincham, the only surprise here was that it took Solihull Moors so long to underline their superiority.

Paul Holleran made one change from the side which started at Stockport, with Lee Moore replacing Jamie Towers and the Brakes boss was rewarded with an early flurry which saw Paul McCone’s close-range shot bravely blocked by Stuart Pierpoint and Liam Daly’s downward header bounce up to strike the bar before being scrambled clear.

Having resisted the initial charge, Moors quickly took a a grip on the game with their midfield, being afforded far too much time and space by their Brakes counterparts, benefiting from the pace and movement of lively front two Omar Bogle and Junior English.

Josh Green produced a superb last-ditch challenge to deny Junior English after the striker looked to have been set free in the box, while Reece Fleet was off-target after working a shooting chance on the edge of the box.

With Matty Dodd well marshalled by two markers, Brakes were finding it hard to get the mercurial winger into the game, but he gave notice of his threat when bursting past two defenders, only to be crudely brought down by Jordan Gough who earned a yellow card for his actions.

McCone headed a Lee Chilton cross narrowly wide and a speculative effort from Joe Magunda whistled over the bar before a breathless passage of play saw both sides come close to opening the scoring.

Daly produced a brave block to deny Michael Nottingham after a corner had been headed back to him in the six-yard box and Nottingham was then on hand to clear the danger at the other end after Lee Moore had outpaced the defence and cut the ball back from the byeline.

Bogle and Nottingham both had shots blocked as Solihull pressed at the end of the half and it needed two stunning saves from Tony Breeden to ensure Brakes went in at the break on level terms.

First he flung himself across goal to deny Bogle after the striker turned last-man Stephan Morley, then he got down smartly at his near post to keep out a close-range header.

With the instruction to press the visitors higher up the pitch, Leamington restricted Solihull to fewer clearcut chances after the break, but to the detriment of their own attacking play.

An early cross from Dodd along the six-yard box evaded two team-mates, while at the other end, Michael Blackwood failed to connect with Bogle’s cross with the goal at his mercy.

Both managers made changes to try and pep up their side, with Moors manager Marcus Bignotsurprising the New Windmill faithful by replacing Matt Birley with an even more portly player in the shape of Gary Birch.

Bogle had his head in hands after seeing a shot deflect off Daly and bounce off the post with Breeden wrongfooted and Birch almost made an instant impact when he rose highest to get on the end of a right-wing free-kick, only to direct his effort straight at the home netminder.

However, three minutes later, he grabbed the goal the visitors deserved.

Daly was unable to deal with a long ball down the middle and Birch latched on to the defender’s ill-directed header and held off his marker before squeezing his shot under the dive of Breeden with the aid of a deflection.

The concession provoked Brakes into their best spell of the game, with Daly almost atoning for his error when flashing a shot past the angle from close range and McCone pulling out the first save of the match from Jasbir Singh with a fine header from Craig Owen’s cross.

With Breeden up for corners, Moors were struggling to get out of their half, but despite an air of desperation about their defending, Brakes’ quest for an equaliser petered out when Alex Taylor dragged a shot well wide.

BRAKES: Tony Breeden, Paul McCone, Stephan Morley, Joe Magunda, Liam Daly, Josh Green (James Mace, 85), Matt Dodd, Elliot Sandy (Alex Taylor, 77), Ricky Johnson (Craig Owen, 74), Lee Moore, Lee Chilton. Subs not used: Jamie Towers, Lewis Fenney.

SOLIHULL MOORS: Jasbir Singh, Michael Nott-ingham, Jordan Gough, Jay Denny, Rob Elvins, Stuart Pierpoint, Matt Birley (Gary Birch, 79), Reece Fleet, Omar Bogle, Junior English, Michael Blackwood. Subs not used: Dominic Langdon, Darryl Knights, Aron Wint, Michael Taylor.