Solihull Moors suffer National League playoff final heartbreak after 2-1 loss to Grimsby Town

Solihull Moors missed out on promotion to League 2 after losing 2-1 to Grimsby Town in the National League playoff final at the London Stadium this afternoon (5 June).

Jordan Maguire-Drew’s late goal in the second period of extra-time was enough to win the game for Town as Paul Hurst’s side came from a goal down to win promotion to the Football League.

Neal Ardley’s men started the game well, putting Town under some early pressure and had a good chance to open the scoring inside two minutes when Callum Howe’s close range effort was blocked following a corner.

Grimsby came back into the contest as the first half wore on, and The Mariners then came close to breaking the deadlock through Harry Clifton who saw his long range effort go just wide of the post.

Although Grimsby had the better of the first half, Moors took the lead right on the edge of half-time thanks to a towering header from Kyle Hudlin.

Hudlin rose highest to head in Joe Sbarra’s cross to give Ardley’s men a half-time lead.

Town also had an appeal for a penalty waved away by the referee, and Moors’ Andrew Dallas saw his deflected effort brilliantly saved by Max Crocombe during an entertaining first half in east London.

After Ardley’s men withstood some early second-half pressure, Grimsby equalised thanks to John McAtee’s well taken strike with just 20 minutes remaining.

The Lincolnshire side, which finished three places below Solihull in the National League, levelled things up after McAtee got on the end of a brilliant pass to slot the ball past Joe McDonnell into the bottom corner.

McAtee was inches away from winning the game for Town in normal time after getting on the end of a dangerous cross with just two minutes to play but his close-range effort went just wide of the post.

Neither side could find a winner as the tense final headed into extra-time.

During the second period of extra time, Moors and their travelling fans suffered playoff final heartbreak after Maguire-Drew got on the end of a long throw in to Solihull’s penalty area to tap in at the back post as Town won promotion to the Football League.

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