Match Report: Oldham Athletic 1-1 Solihull Moors

Oldham Athletic 1-1 Solihull Moors

A last minute overhead kick from Solihull Moors debutant Jack Stevens denied Oldham Athletic victory on a celebratory day for the club. 

The ownership of the stadium has long been a source of contention for supporters who have gone through a lot of heartache to reach this point. Frank Rothwell’s takeover last summer has signalled the start of a new era for a club long in the doldrums and this development is perhaps the most important business they have completed since taking the reins. Rothwell showed his appreciation for those involved in making it happen with a speech before kick-off, followed by the lifting of a giant key.

That speech delayed kick off by a few minutes and both sides were clearly eager to get going, defences at either end forced to make important blocks before Josh Kelly hit the post.

The hosts took control as the game settled and Mark Kitching made the most of the space he was afforded, arrowing a low, bobbling effort beyond Ryan Boot from 25 yards. The goal gave them confidence, John Rooney soon volleying over and Devarn Green’s surging run ended by a well-timed James Clarke block. 

Solihull Moors were having difficulty imposing their style but a break in play following Joe Sbarra’s injury helped, Callum Maycock forcing a good stop from Magnus Norman before Will Sutton denied Kelly a tap in from the rebound. The pressure continued and Justin Donawa’s low ball somehow evaded everybody in the box. 

That was as close as Neal Ardley’s side came to an equaliser in the first half. Not that Oldham were much closer, Bassala Sambou and Mark Shelton failing to find the target from distance after well worked moves. 

The second half started as the first ended, Oldham the better side but chances few and far between. John Rooney was the man that came closest, his corner being tipped over by Boot, striking the post from 15 yards after good work from Green and Sutton down the right and the Latics number 17 thought he had a simple finish after the hour only for Alex Gudger to make a crucial challenge. 

The visitors weren’t short of endeavour or belief, they just lacked quality precision or decision making to break a well organised home defence and were left thankful to goalkeeper Boot that they didn’t concede a second, palming away another long range Oldham strike, this time from substitute Mike Fondop-Talum. 

Oldham thought they had seen the game out but Timmy Abrahams, another substitute, gave away a cheap free-kick. Whelan’s delivery made its way to Stevens who spectacularly levelled the game in the final seconds. 

Tactics

Oldham Athletic (4-4-1-1): Hudson; Sutton Hogan Yarney Kitching; Green Shelton Sheron Rooney (Chapman); Nuttall (Fondop-Talum); Sambou (Abrahams). Unused: P.Clarke Couto. 

Solihull Moors (3-5-2): Boot; Clarke Howe Gudger; Donawa (Stevens) Maycock Whelan Sbarra (Jones) Roberts (Tiensia); Beck Kelly. Unused: Mills Wood. 

Oldham played a functional 4-4-1-1 shape, Nuttall behind Sambou in attack and the midfield and defensive units tight and structured, challenged to stick together as a unit and shift across the pitch without leaving gaps. 

They were comfortably allowing Solihull Moors deep possession with little threat, forcing the ball into wide positions then looking to challenge anything that was played forward. Once they won possession back, it was all about setting a winger or full-back away in as few passes as possible, Shelton and Rooney often responsible for first-time passes that beat any attempt of a Moors press. 

Down the left, Kitching often had the flank to himself with Rooney preferring to tuck inside. There was more fluidity down the right where Sutton would work off whatever position Green took up, happy to make over or under lapping runs to open up the space. Overloads were key down the right with Shelton a willing supporter too. 

Oldham’s shape in possession meant that whenever play broke down, bodies were well positioned to get hold of the loose ball or support each other to win possession back and, as above, the first or second pass was usually sent back out wide where the space was. 

The space was out wide because Solihull Moors were set up in a 3-5-2. The back three were flanked by Donawa and Mitch Roberts. Whelan started deep with Sbarra and Maycock flanking him behind the front two of Kelly and Beck. 

Their modus operandi was to try and play from the back. They set up with Clarke and Gudger operating wider in the back three, Howe deeper and Whelan just in front. Oldham asked Sambou to push on higher and close Howe so Moors started using Boot to transfer the ball one side to the other. 

The idea was to move into the final third either by playing triangles in wide areas between wide centre back, wing back and wide central midfielder to break one of the latter two into space or look for the direct pass in behind to either Donawa or Kelly. The patterns worked best down the right but the execution was often lacking.

When the opportunity to play wasn’t on, Moors weren’t afraid to utilise Beck, who usually had Kelly in close support. This became a common feature with Donawa and Clarke often finding themselves stuck for a way out. The issue was that if a ball was flicked on, the midfield weren’t quick enough to support the front two, making life easy for Oldham to win seconds and play. 

Moors also caused themselves an issue defensively by effectively finding themselves 3 v 1 defensively, which meant overloads were available for Oldham in the centre of the pitch, and that caused issues for the Moors midfield who were overrun, being dragged out to the opposition full-backs which created space centrally for the ball to be transferred into space on the other flank. 

There was a change halfway through the first half when Jones replaced Sbarra. Jones stepped into the defensive midfield position and Whelan into the left central role. 

Stevens replaced Donawa for the last 15 or so. Moors moved to a narrow 4-3-3 shape with Stevens and Kelly either side of Beck and Clarke shifting to right-back. This forced a change for Oldham who now had to do the running out wide and created space for Moors to find the feet of their midfield and attack. Stevens often found himself in half spaces on the left as a result and had Kelly running off the front. 

Who impressed? 

Oldham as a whole were impressive. They kept their shape and always knew where the out ball was.

My man of the match on the day was Mark Kitching. Yes, he scored the goal, but he was a constant outlet down the left and made his involvements count, getting Oldham up the pitch and winning set-pieces.

Nathan Sheron and Mark Shelton were excellent in midfield, dominant in that area of the pitch with tough tackles and precise play. Bassala Sambou was lively in attack, Liam Hogan led the defence and neither Devarn Green or Will Sutton looked out of place. 

Solihull Moors weren’t at their best on the day but they generally limited Oldham to efforts outside of the area and the back three deserve credit for that.

Joey Jones and Tom Whelan moved the ball well. Josh Kelly didn’t give anything up. Jack Stevens’ cameo was a bright one. 

Conclusions

My reason for choosing to watch this game was to get an early idea of what to expect next season from two sides that will be looking to build structure ahead of having a go next campaign.

I think both sides are well set-up but they’re not the finished article as far as challenging for promotion next season is concerned. 

Oldham have a good structure. There’s a simplicity about their game which relies upon having a strong work ethic, good character and confidence with the ball – they need to play forward quickly and accurately without resorting to hopeful punts. Improvements to the XI have clearly helped and it’s no surprise that had the season started on New Year’s Day, the Latics would be in the top seven. 

I think the spine of Norman, Hogan, Sheron, Shelton and Nuttall is a functional and reliable one, which will take them so far. Around them, they good athletes, which provides good balance to the team and makes it easier for them to get up the pitch. It’s about building upon those parts now to find the ruthless streak to turn out results regularly, rather than the bitty form that has helped them progress up the table and away from the drop zone. 

Unsworth has done a decent job so far but they have to step it up a level next year. It’s less about an overhaul, even if they do have a lot of deadwood to let go, and more about a mentality shift and quality recruitment. 

For Solihull Moors, signs of old have returned. Time on the training ground and regular availability of key players has been key to that, Boot, Clarke, Howe and Gudger starting regularly together for the first time this season. It’s no coincidence that that has bred more confidence in how they play out from the back and for all their difficulties getting the execution right yesterday, they never left themselves too open centrally, which has been a problem previously. 

This isn’t vintage Solihull Moors however. They aren’t reaching the same levels as the side that finished 3rd in the league and almost won promotion via the play-offs last season and recruitment is going to be a big thing next summer.

They have a reliable defensive core and in Mark Beck and Josh Kelly, quality to build around in attack. But they no longer have the quality and craft of Harry Boyes, Ryan Barnett and Andrew Dallas while Tom Whelan and Mitch Roberts are only at the club in loan. The additions of Jack Stevens and Junior Tiensia suggest they are already addressing this but they have to find quality to both improve the XI and provide depth. 

Last summer wasn’t what they wanted with the shorter break between play-offs and the new season and their recruitment, fitness and confidence suffered as a result. They have no excuses heading into this summer and have to be prepared to make the right decisions this time around.