City face Cup replay after Solihull draw

City go into Monday's draw for the Emirates FA Cup 4th Qualifying Round after a 1-1 draw at Solihull Moors.

It was the highest ever crowd at The Automated Technology Group Stadium with a large following of City fans to face a Moors side at the top of the National League North who were unbeaten so far in the season & who had already beaten City 3-0 earlier in the season.

Stefan Moore put Moors ahead on the stroke of half-time with Deon Burton grabbing a 75th minute equaliser to force a replay at Aggborough.

City started brightly with Deon Burton shooting over from close range after a great cross from Daniel Nti from the right wing then Nti hit a ferocious shot from outside the box which was saved by Moors keeper Benjamin Siegrist, on loan from Aston Villa.

After a quiet opening Nathan Vaughan joined the action making several great saves from Stefan Moore and Ryan Beswick. The first was from a Connor Franklin’s cross which Vaughan turned over the bar then seconds later he palmed Beswick’s point blank shot away before saving the rebound from Akwasi Asante who ruled offside.

On 41 minutes Asante jinxed his way through the City defence but again Vaughan was there to tip the ball round the post, then on 44 minutes Moore pushed forward into the City box, Vaughan raced out and Moore went down under the challenge but despite Vaughan's protests that he had not made contact, referee Ricky Wootton pointed to the spot

Moore then stepped up to convert the penalty kick to give The Moors a half time lead.

Despite the intense period of first half pressure City raced out of the blocks in the second half with Daniel Nti once again causing problems down the right flank. On 70 minutes he rounded Siegrist but he couldn’t beat Liam Daly who superbly cleared with the ball going in to the goal.

On 75 minutes City were awarded a free kick mid way in the Moors half. Sean Geddes whipped the ball in which fell to Deon Burton in the scramble who shot on the half volley from the edge of the box past Siegrist to make it 1-1 much to the delight of the large City contingent.

Vaughan tipped a Daly effort over the bar and James Armson tried a speculative lob from mid way in the City half in the dying moments of the game but the ball landed on the roof of the net forcing a replay at Aggborough.

Att: 923