Solihull Youth Academy V Walsall Wood (Division Three)

​Solihull Youth Academy were looking to continue their impressive form in division three with a statement result against Walsall Wood yesterday afternoon at Tudor Grange Academy. The league leaders were coming off six straight wins in division three which includes notable away wins against Kenilworth Sporting and Diamond Academy.

They’re entering a crucial stretch of the season over the next few months with just twelve matches to go. The league feels wide open at the minute with up to seven teams challenging for two promotion places.  

Their home form had been impressive under manager Reece Platt with four wins from six matches in the league.

Walsall Wood were looking to build on an encouraging 5-1 away win against AFC Birmingham with a result against Solihull. The visitors were looking to build some momentum in division three under Adam Pearce and Phil Male to challenge for the top two.  

The Wood had been consistent in the league with nine wins from twelve matches coming into yesterday. They notably beat Solihull at home to start the season and have beaten the likes of Silhill and Kenilworth Sporting at Oak Park so far to strengthen their hopes of promotion.

An impressive crowd of 92 supporters turned up to Tudor Grange Academy yesterday afternoon to watch the match in tough weather conditions.    

​Starting line ups

The starting line up for Solihull included Josh Murtagh starting in goal and Luke Cowley-Bryenton captaining the team as part of a back three. The formation looked like a 3-4-3 with a front two of Louis Weir and Arnaldo Primera Basilo being supported by Aon Abbas in the number ten role.

There were two changes from their last league match against Kenilworth Sporting a fortnight ago with Josh Murtagh coming into the team and playing in goal in place of Stanley Puleo.

The starting line up for Walsall Wood included Sam Cooksey starting in goal and Le’Shae Brown captaining the team as part of a back three. The formation looked like a 3-5-2 with a front two of Colin Smith and Mac Lee being supported by Ricky Shinger from attacking midfield.   

There were four changes from their last league match against AFC Birmingham a fortnight ago with Kieron Carrell coming into the team and playing in the middle of a back three. 

First Half

Solihull got off to a quick start and took the lead in the first minute thanks to a brilliant counter attacking move. Arnaldo Primera Basilo ran through on goal with just Sam Cookey to beat before producing a composed finish into the top right corner for 1-0.

​Walsall were playing with a high line and Solihull looked to stretch the back three in the opening stages of the first half. Louis Weir made a brilliant run down the left-hand side before getting into the box and finding Salieu Jallow who finished into the bottom left corner for 2-0 on 14 minutes.

The pace of Solihull was causing the visitors problems in the opening twenty minutes, and they looked like a side in form yesterday. Joe Hemming made a good run from midfield before having a shot well saved by Sam Cookey on 15 minutes.

Walsall gradually grew into the game as the first half went on and showed some character to stay in the match at 2-0 down. They started to get a hold of Solihull’s attacking threat with Le’Shae Brown reading the danger well on the right side of a back three.

Colin Smith looked a threat up front and was making promising runs into the final third. He gave the Wood that physicality to make things happen up front and did a good job of holding up the ball as the number nine.

He instinctively ran onto a well weighted ball in the box before finishing into the bottom right corner to pull a goal back on 30 minutes.

Walsall were building some momentum in the closing stages of the first half and were causing Solihull some problems at 2-1 down. They had more control of the midfield with Dan Greatrex helping to link up the play and start off attacks.

Sam Cooksey also made a crucial save to keep Walsall in it on 42 minutes when he instinctively saved Louis Weir’s effort on goal and sent it round the post.   

Second Half

Solihull found another gear in the second half and started taking the game to Walsall Wood on the break after seeing out the opening fifteen minutes.

They were asked questions from Walsall at 2-1 up and showed character and grit to not let them back into the game. Luke Cowley-Bryenton read the danger well in the middle of the back three and was constantly heading dangerous balls away from goal. Joe Hemming also worked hard off the ball and broke up promising attacks from midfield.

There’s a good spine in this Solihull team that can see out challenging spells which felt encouraging against Walsall. They had one of the best defensive records in the league going into the weekend with just seventeen goals conceded and they looked well organised off the ball yesterday.  

Salieu Jallow found some space in midfield before playing a well weighted ball to Arnaldo Primera Basilo who ran through on goal. The Solihull forward rounded Sam Cooksey in the Walsall goal before calmly squaring the ball to Louis Weir who finished into the bottom right corner for 3-1.

It was a quality move by Solihull on the break which effectively sealed the game on the hour mark.

Sam Cooksey made an unfortunate mistake playing out from the back a few minutes later. Salieu Jallow reacted quickest to the loose ball before finding the bottom right corner from the edge of the box to make it 4-1 on 63 minutes.

The attacking quality of Solihull really shone in the second half, and they looked lively on the break.

Arnaldo Primera Basilo found some space on the edge of the box before having a curling shot tipped round the post by Sam Cooksey on 67 minutes.

There was also quality off the bench with Archie Greenway coming on and helping to control the midfield to close out the match.

A hand ball in the box by Sulayman Hangero-Cham resulted in a Solihull penalty late on. Arnaldo Primera Basilo stepped up and took a quality spot kick into the bottom left corner to make it 5-1 on 81 minutes.

Solihull were able to comfortably see out the match late on for a statement win in tough weather conditions.

Full Time

It’s now seven straight wins in division three for the current league leaders. Yesterday’s result also improves their goal difference which could be huge in a close promotion race.

It felt like an off day for Walsall Wood, and it was not quite clicking in front of goal yesterday. They had spells of pressure on the Solihull goal but struggled to create clear cut chances in the final third.

Upcoming fixtures

It feels like a big month within Solihull’s season, and they play a couple of promotion contenders over their next few matches.

They have a run of home matches against Silhill (Saturday 6th December) and AFC Birmingham (Saturday 13th December) before travelling to AFC Balsall on Saturday 27th December.

Walsall Wood will be looking to bounce back from yesterday’s loss with a statement result against step five side Romulus at home in the JW Hunt Cup on Tuesday 2nd December.

They return to league action with a home match against Arden Forest Sporting on Saturday 6th December before playing Kenilworth Sporting (Saturday 13th December) and Diamond Academy (Saturday 27th December) away from home over the next month.            

FT score: Solihull Youth Academy 5-1 Walsall Wood

Man of the Match: Arnaldo Primera Basilo (Solihull Youth Academy)

Attendance: 92

Match report written by Rhys Beardmore for the Midland Football League