Solihull Moors prepare to face promotion-chasing Boreham Wood this week, needing a result to arrest a slide that has left them 23rd in the National League. The Moors have taken just four points from nine games and suffered a 3-0 defeat to the same opponents only days ago.
Chris Millington, who is approaching his first anniversary in charge after arriving in November 2024, will look to his squad for a response. The 51-year-old manager, formerly assistant at FC Halifax Town, led Barrow to an 11th-place finish and an FA Trophy win at Wembley before taking the Solihull job. His side's recent form shows one win from their last nine league outings, a sequence that includes heavy losses to Yeovil Town and Aldershot Town.
Opposition analysis
Boreham Wood arrive at Damson Park as one of the favourites for promotion to League Two, a status bolstered by a record-breaking player sale. This summer they transferred Abdul Abdulmalik to Swedish side Djurgardens IF for £1.5 million, a fee that surpassed the previous National League record set by Jamie Vardy's move to Leicester City. Established in 1948, the Hertfordshire club has a long non-league history, winning promotions through the Athenian and Isthmian leagues before securing their place in the National League in 2015. They have since become a consistent force, reaching the play-off final in 2018 and finishing fifth in the curtailed 2019-20 season under current manager Luke Garrard.
Key player focus
Joe Sbarra's return provides a focal point for Solihull's attack. The two-time England C international, who initially joined on loan from Burton Albion before a permanent move in 2020, scored 41 goals in 188 appearances during his first spell. After a brief move to Doncaster Rovers in 2024, he returned to Damson Park on loan that November and made the switch permanent the following summer. His creativity and experience were key in the Moors' runs to the 2024 play-off and FA Trophy finals.
Recent form and stakes
The immediate task is to overturn the momentum from the recent meeting. Boreham Wood's 3-0 victory on 26 September, with goals from B. Whitfield and J. Bird, extended Solihull's difficult start. The Moors have conceded 23 goals this season while scoring only nine, leaving them with a goal difference of minus fourteen. They are nineteen points behind Boreham Wood, who lead the table. Adult tickets for the match are priced at £15.
Manager Chris Millington acknowledged the challenge. "Solihull Moors side will welcome high-flying Boreham Wood, led by manager Luke Garrard, to Damson Park," he said. The club will hope the familiar surroundings can spark a turnaround. After this fixture, attention turns to a trip to face 18th-placed Woking on 29 September.
This story first appeared at Solihull Moors FC
