National League Play-Off Final Preview: Solihull Moors vs Grimsby Town

Solihull Moors are one step away from reaching the Football League for the first time in their history, facing Grimsby Town in the National League play-off final at the London Stadium.

The Moors were founded in 2007, making a steady rise towards the EFL since. Missing out narrowly in 2018/19, Solihull were pipped to the post in the automatic promotion race by Leyton Orient, ending the campaign three points behind the O’s. That season, they went onto stumble again in the play-off semi-finals, AFC Fylde their conquerors.

Standing in their way this time around are Grimsby, who are looking to bounce straight back into League Two at the first time of asking having finished bottom and been relegated last season. Ending in sixth place this season, the Lincolnshire side have had a rollercoaster ride through the play-offs so far which has culminated in their place in the final.

The Mariners scored an 89th-minute equaliser and then grabbed a 119th-minute winner in extra time against Notts County to reach the semi-finals, where they would face Welsh giants Wrexham AFC.

In a match filled with goals, it was once again a 119th-minute winner which saw them progress, that making it 5-4 in their favour against the much-favoured hosts.

Neal Ardley’s Moors side meanwhile had a much simpler route to the final having finished the regular league season in third. Hosting Chesterfield in the last four, they trailed after eight minutes, but a quick response from Andrew Dallas drew them level.

Goals from Alex Gudger and Callum Howe followed to book their place in Sunday’s showdown where the West Midlands outfit will face a Grimsby side which they have already done the double over this season.

Key Battle: Andrew Dallas & Joe Sbarra vs John McAtee & Ryan Taylor

With so much on the line for both teams, the game could turn into a cagey affair, however both sides possess an attacking duo that have the quality to light up the London Stadium.

Solihull striker Dallas is the third top scorer in this season’s National League, with winger Joe Sbarra seventh in the same list with the pair having scored 38 goals between them this season.

Dallas scored in typical fashion last time out to level the score against Chesterfield, making a precise run in behind to find himself one-on-one with the keeper before showing the composure that has taken him towards the top of the goal scoring charts with a deft chip over the onrushing Scott Loach.

Sbarra is in fine form himself – scoring two in his last four matches – and while he may not have scored in the semi-final, the 23-year-old’s threat from dead balls and incisive play between the lines was part of the key to success for the Moors.

In the Mariners camp meanwhile, the duo of John McAtee and Ryan Taylor offer the key threat having scored 24 goals between them throughout this campaign including two in the play-offs so far.

The strike force’s quality in front of goal has been the instrumental aspect for Grimsby making it this far. Taylor and McAtee are third and fourth respectively in terms of minutes played this season for the their side, evidencing how important their presence and blossoming partnership has been. Remarkably, between them, they have scored 32% of Grimsby’s goals during the regular season.

In a game bound to be decided by fine margins it will be moments of quality that the two attacking duos possess, that will inevitably swing the match in the direction of their respective sides.

Team News:

Solihull Moors will carry out late fitness tests on Lois Maynard and Adam Rooney after the pair missed the play-off semi final through injury.

Whereas, Grimsby Town’s Paul Hurst has a full squad to select from and may choose to rotate the squad after his side accumulated a total of 240 minutes in a week on route to the final.

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