Harrogate Town failed to close the gap on leaders Salford City as they slipped to a disappointing 2-0 defeat at Damson Park,Solihull.
Simon Weaver selected the same starting eleven that defeated Maidenhead on Saturday,with Warren Burrell continuing at left back,in place of the injured Liam Kitching.
The opening exchanges were even,but Town’s first attempt on goal took fully fifteen minutes, when a George Thomson free kick was kept out by Moors keeper,Ryan Boot.
Danny Wright thought he had opened Moors account after twenty minutes, when he bundled the ball in off the upright,only to by denied by on offside flag.
Soon afterwards,Wright again hit the woodwork when he volleyed a low Jamie Reckord cross against the post,but it was Town who hit back with their best chance of the match.
Joe Leesley broke down the right and delivered a superb centre which found Kelvin Langmead,only for Boot to keep out his effort with a point blank save.
Unfortunately for Town,on thirtysix minutes Solihull scored the all important first goal when the unmarked,Alex Gudger,was able to head home a corner from six yards out.
Town started the second half on the front foot with Thomson testing Boot and Josh Falkingham shooting narrowly wide from distance.
The Moors defence,which had defied the efforts of both high flying Salford City and cup opponents Blackpool ,to breach,were easily keeping the Town attack at bay,necessitating Town to introduce Michael Woods and Dom Knowles just after the hour mark.
The visitors came close when a Leesley free kick flashed past the upright,but it was the Moors who had the final say.
With twenty minutes left,Moors brought on sub,Adi Yussuf,who had a short spell at Town a few seasons ago and he soon struck the post with James Belshaw well beaten.
However, it took a controversial penalty to finally scupper Town.
With five minutes left,Jamey Osborne was ruled to have been fouled inside the box and Yussuf made no mistake with the ensuing penalty kick.
Simon Weaver admitted his team had been outbattled and had been unable to assert themselves,but they have an early chance to get back to winning ways on Saturday,when they entertain Aldershot Town.
Town,
Belshaw,Fallowfield,Falkingham,Howe,Burrell,Thomson(Williams 75),Emmett,Beck(Knowles 63),Leesley,Langmead,Muldoon(Woods 63).
Unused subs,Cracknell,Kerry. Booked Falkingham,Leesley.
Solihull Moors,
Boot,Williams,Reckord,Storer,Daly,Gudger,Osborne,Carter(Maxwell 78),Hylton(Thomas 80),Wright,Stenson(Yussuf 70).
Unused subs,Carline,Flowers.
Scorers,Gudger 36,Yussuf 85(p) Att.794
Referee R Hulme
By John Harrison,
@John Har59276371
