A battle of the West Midlands will bring an end to England's football calendar in 2024, with Solihull Moors hosting Tamworth at ARMCO Arena in the National League on Tuesday afternoon.
The Moors are looking to record another success after a narrow victory on the road last time out, whilst the giant-killing Lambs are hoping to build on a respectable point gained at home against Forest Green Rovers.
Match preview
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After a pair of failed playoff runs during the last three seasons, it appears as if Solihull Moors are heading towards an opportunity to make it third time lucky during the 2024-25 campaign, with the West Midlands minnows battling hard to enter the EFL for the first time in their humble history.
Following defeats across the FA Cup and FA Trophy to Bromley and Radcliffe respectively at the beginning of the festive schedule, the Moors have enjoyed a four-game unbeaten streak in the National League as they hurtle towards 2025, collecting 10 points from a quartet of contests.
A Boxing Day jaunt to strugglers Boston United was on the cards for Solihull last time out, with a first fifth-tier strike of the season from midfielder Jamey Osborne securing maximum points for the visitors, who were helped significantly by the first-half dismissal of Jordan Richards.
Approaching their final fight of the calendar year, Andy Whing's troops are currently occupying seventh spot in the National League standings, two points ahead of Halifax Town who lie outside of the playoffs and a mammoth 11 points behind Barnet in the only automatic promotion spot.
Earning 18 points from 12 matches at their West Midlands base so far, Solihull Moors rank only 13th in the division in terms of home form, but Tuesday's hosts have been fairly formidable at ARMCO Arena in recent times, recording 2-1 and 4-1 wins over Aldershot Town and Fylde respectively.
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Following back-to-back promotions from the seventh to the fifth tier of English football over the past two years, part-timers Tamworth are now the smaller fish in the National League pond, although that title has not prevented them from upsetting the apple cart on many occasions this term.
The Lambs have thrust themselves into the international spotlight in recent times courtesy of their antics in the FA Cup, beating League One outfits Huddersfield Town and Burton Albion to earn a mouth-watering tie with Premier League powerhouses Tottenham Hotspur in the third round on January 12.
With the visit of Ange Postecoglou's Lilywhites in the back of their minds, Tamworth must focus on retaining their status as a fifth-tier side after only managing to claim the single victory from four league matches so far in December, a spell of results which includes a 3-0 defeat at Rochdale on December 17.
It looked as if the Lambs were speeding towards their 10th loss of the National League campaign on Boxing Day when Kyle McAllister netted in the first half for Forest Green at The Lamb Ground, but a 90th-minute equaliser from substitute Dan Creaney snatched a point for the hosts.
Battling on with a modest budget for the level, Tamworth have done extremely well to sit 15th in the National League standings as the New Year approaches, with three points on Tuesday afternoon at ARMCO Arena enough to take Andy Peaks's side above Southend United into 14th place.
Team News
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After keeping their first clean sheet since the middle of November on Boxing Day, Solihull Moors should stick with a centre-back pairing of James Clarke and Alex Whitmore.
The Moors are likely to be without the services of striker Michael Adu-Poku, who was forced off with an issue just 22 minutes into the Boston battle last time out.
As a result, Whing will need to find a new solution for Solihull at the top end of the pitch, with Matthew Warburton a candidate to earn promotion from the bench.
Replaced during the half-time interval on Boxing Day, 19-year-old midfielder George Morrison is set to drop out of the Tamworth starting XI for the trip to Solihull.
Eight-goal forward Creaney will fancy his chances of starting this game after netting the winner off the bench last week, whilst December arrival Jordan Ponticelli will also be eyeing an attacking berth.
Solihull Moors possible starting lineup:
Barret; Oakley, Clarke, Whitmore, Newton; Bostock, Osborne, Bowen, Stevens; Wilkinson, Warburton
Tamworth possible starting lineup:
Singh; Crompton, Digie, Hollis, Mollett; McGlinchey, Tonks, Fletcher, Milnes; Wreh, Creaney
We say: Solihull Moors 2-1 Tamworth
Winning each of their last two home matches by an aggregate scoreline of 6-2, Solihull Moors should be confident of putting Tamworth to the sword on Tuesday afternoon.
The Lambs were forced to expend a lot of energy to snatch a point against Forest Green last time out, and we reckon that Peaks's men will fall short at ARMCO Arena.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Carter White
