Ross Lamb’s dramatic injury-time strike earned our youngsters a magnificent 3-2 victory over Solihull Moors in the FCYA (Midland Division) this afternoon.
Lamb struck at the end of a pulsating 90 minutes to earn us a deserved three points, which moves us back to the top of the table.
Our youngsters, who remain unbeaten in the FCYA (Midland Division), dominated possession and could have gone ahead midway through the first half.
Kevin Hemagou was tripped on the edge of the area, which allowed Joe Flint to step up and rattle the post with the subsequent free-kick.
Conor Green also came close on two separate occasions, and the young winger was involved when we eventually broke the deadlock on 35 minutes.
Green’s right-sided corner was only partially cleared, which resulted in Lamb collecting a loose ball on the edge of the area, from where he rifled a shot into the top corner.
Our side were good value for their 1-0 advantage at the break, but the visitors fought-back and drew level shortly after the re-start.
Alex Cooper weaved into empty space on the edge of the area and unleashed a 20-yard strike, which was just out of Jordan Fell’s reach.
Solihull’s Stefan Blake then turned the game on its head on the hour-mark, when he found the target with a swerving 35-yard wonder-strike, which gave Jordan Fell no chance.
However, our youngsters showed excellent grit and determination, as they found an equaliser within just a few minutes of going behind.
Lamb collected possession on the right-wing and drilled an inviting low ball through the six-yard box, which was tucked away by Flint.
Flint’s equaliser was the catalyst for a Stags comeback, which was so nearly completed in the closing stages.
Substitute Jack Hutchinson, who was introduced just seconds earlier, saw a low drive parried by Ellis Hunkins in his own goalmouth, before Luke Thomas struck the woodwork on the follow-up.
The visitors almost snatched a break-away win on the verge of added time, but Fell incredibly tipped Curtis Shiels’ goal-bound effort round the post.
Nevertheless, just as it seemed inevitable that both teams would have to settle for a point, there was one dramatic late twist deep into injury-time.
Chris Spencer’s low ball out to the right flank found Lamb, who expertly spun away from his marker, before cutting inside and advancing into a one-on-one.
With just the keeper to beat, the youngster showed superb composure in firing beyond a full-stretch Hunkins to earn our youngsters a precious three points.
Team: Fell, Hodgett-Young (L.Thomas), Koczalski, Brownlie, Simpson, Green, Spencer, J.Thomas (C), Lamb, Hemagou (Hutchinson), Flint.
