MOORS’ YATES IS UP AND RUNNING

BATTLING Solihull Moors got life under Mark Yates off to a solid start as they hit back to claim a valuable point off in-form Maidstone United.

Yates and assistant Tim Flowers took to the dug-out for the first time but got off to the worst possible start when Joe Pigott put the Stones in front inside 42 seconds!

But Moors showed heart and earned the new management team a first point with on-loan Kwame Thomas levelling things up on 64 minutes.

“We have told the players of the importance of that sort of performance every week. We know it is going to be difficult but it was a good point,” Yates said.

Yates must have wondered the size of the task facing him when Pigott coolly lobbed Nick Townsend in the Moors goal no sooner had he sat down in his seat.

Solihull, though, showed character in hitting back, forcing a series of corners, but it was the Stones who went closest to doubling their lead – Jamar Loza threading throught for Johan ter Horst, who rounded Townsend but lashed the ball aimlessly onto the crossbar.

The Stones initially struggled to get going again after the break and Moors sensed blood. Darren Carter’s shot from distance was parried by Lee Worgan and the arriving Thomas fired the rebound over the bar when well placed.

Moors then went close again minutes later when the ball dropped invitingly to Shepherd Murombedzi whose low shot looked certain to go in only to be met by a good save from Worgan.

But with 64 minutes gone, Moors did get the equaliser they deserved. Substitute Akwasi Asante bombed down the left and although Worgan did well to parry his effort, he could do nothing to stop Thomas from scoring the rebound from close range.

“I don’t know what it is about our home form,” moaned disappointed Stones boss Jay Saunders afterwards. “We are clinical away from home but not here. If you don’t take your chances, you don’t win games, it’s as simple as that.”