A seven-goal thriller unfolded at the ARMCO Arena, with Solihull Moors weathering a late Barnet storm to secure a 4-3 victory. Barnet drew first blood in the 12th minute when Nicke Kabamba found the back of the net. However, Solihull responded emphatically with two goals in quick succession late in the first half. Jamey Osborne’s assist set up Jack Stevens to level the scores in the 36th minute, before Bradley Stevenson sent the home crowd into raptures just two minutes later, putting the Moors 2-1 ahead.
Solihull extended their advantage in the second half. In the 55th minute, Sam Bowen made it 3-1, converting a well-placed pass from Stevens. Substitute James Gale, having only just entered the fray, furthered Barnet’s woes by adding Solihull’s fourth in the 75th minute. At this point, a comfortable home victory seemed assured. However, Barnet refused to lie down.
A dramatic finale ensued as Barnet mounted a late comeback. Deep into stoppage time, in the 93rd minute, substitute Zak Brunt pulled one back for the visitors, assisted by fellow substitute Joe Kizzi. Then, in the 95th minute, Kabamba notched his second of the match, with Brunt providing the assist, making for a nervy finish. Despite Barnet’s valiant late rally, Solihull held on to claim all three points.
The frantic closing stages mirrored the tactical ebb and flow of the match. While Barnet’s earlier substitutions, including Kizzi, aimed to bolster their defence, Solihull’s changes sought to inject fresh legs into their attack. Both teams’ substitutes impacted the scoreline, but it was Solihull’s decisive first-half turnaround that ultimately proved the difference.
Coming into the match, league leaders Barnet faced 12th-placed Solihull Moors, two sides with a history of close contests, having drawn three of their previous five meetings. The result sees Solihull climb to 10th in the National League table, while Barnet, despite the defeat, remain top.