Solihull Moors 4-2 FC Halifax Town - Hosts head into National League play-off semi-finals

Jamey Osborne has scored three goals in his past five games for Solihull Moors

Solihull Moors will face Barnet in the National League play-off semi-finals after holding off a bold FC Halifax Town comeback in their play-off eliminator.

The Shaymen, who were playing their fifth game in 12 days, were caught cold as Tahvon Campbell, Jack Stevens and a Tylor Golden own goal had them three down inside 38 minutes.

Jack Evans and substitute Florent Hoti scored to give the Yorkshire side real hope, but they then saw a Rob Harker header hit the bar, and Jamey Osborne settled it with a fourth goal for Moors in the 86th minute.

Solihull have already booked their first-ever Wembley visit, as they face Gateshead in the FA Trophy final on 11 May, but victory at The Hive on Saturday would also see them play there on 5 May with a league place at stake.

The Shaymen went into the game with 48 hours' notice after the National League's decision to exclude Gateshead from the play-offs after their ground failed to meet Football League criteria.

They also had to play four games last week after postponements due to the toll heavy rain and the Halifax Panthers rugby league team had taken on their Shay pitch.

They only secured seventh place with a win at Eastleigh on Saturday and that hectic schedule seemed to have an effect as Solihull dominated the early stages.

Campbell saw his shot deflect past keeper Sam Johnson and Stevens, after missing a great chance, got the final touch to another Campbell shot to double the lead.

It all seemed to be over as Campbell again let fly, and his deflected shot was turned past his own goalkeeper by Golden.

Evans headed home from a corner in first half added time, and sub Hoti, a Kosovo under-21 international, crashed a 25-yard effort in off the underside of the bar as Halifax found reserves of strength to fight back strongly.

Harker then headed another big opportunity against the underside of the bar and the outstanding Osborne made sure for the home side as he squeezed through two challengers and forced his shot between Johnson and his near post with four minutes of normal time to go.

Solihull Moors manager Andy Whing told BBC Radio WM:

"We started off like a house on fire. The first half-hour we were unstoppable and it could have been more, Jack Stevens had two or three really good chances he'd score on another day.

"Then they threw caution to the wind being 3-0 down and threw an extra body in the box just before half time which was disappointing and put us on edge a little bit.

"We sank perhaps a little bit too deep, which was understandable, and they scored a worldy, and you think 'Here we go, it's the play-offs, anything can happen'. Then they hit the bar and Jamey Osborne scored a wonder goal, he did it on his own."