Moors’ unbeaten streak came to an end on Easter Monday as they fell to a frustrating defeat to Scarborough Athletic at The Mounting Systems Stadium.
The game’s only goal came with 19 minutes to go as Stephen Walker tapped home from close range after a mix-up at the back.
Moors started the match well, as Rob Ramshaw got in behind and went for a lobbed effort over Ryan Whitley, only for the goalkeeper to stick a hand out and claim the attempt.
Both sides saw their keepers comfortably claim balls forward around the 15th minute, as Whitley collected Tom Broadbent’s ball over the top, before a cross from the left was held by Brad James.
The Seadogs could have taken the lead just shy of the half-hour mark, as a scramble in the Moors penalty area almost allowed a Scarborough man to force the ball home. However, the prodded effort was thumped off the line by defender Broadbent.
Mackenzie Heaney looked to get Moors into a good position when he slipped a smart ball forward towards the run of Junior Mondal – on for the injured Ben Beals – only for Whitley to run off his line and claim.
Scarborough frontman, Richie Bennett, went close on the 44th minute when he took aim 20-yards from goal. However, his powerful strike dropped just wide of the mark.
Bennett had another chance soon after, as he had the opportunity to put his side ahead in first half stoppage time, but saw his effort from the edge of the area soar over the bar and out of the stadium.
Moors had a chance of their own with the final touch of the opening 45, as a corner from the left found the head of Broadbent in the area. He navigated a header on target, but saw the attempt cleared by a Scarborough man.
Tommy Miller and Matty Dolan’s side thought they’d got themselves in front early on in the second half, as Mondal found the back of the net from close range. A well-played ball from Heaney split the backline and found Mondal, who tucked home, only for the linesman’s flag to be raised.
Both sides had half chances soon after, first for Walker, whose curling effort flew wide of the mark from distance, before Corey McKeown was forced away from goal by Kieran Weledji.
The hosts almost profited from a mistake at the back just after the hour mark, as a miss-kicked clearance from Dan Jones five yards from goal almost allowed for a Scarborough man to prod home. James did well though and reacted quickly to smother the danger.
Ramshaw went close soon after, as he smashed an effort on target from the edge of the penalty area, only for the strike to end up flying straight into the arms of Whitley.
Jonathan Greening’s side took the lead with 19 minutes to go through an unfortunate mix-up at the back from Moors.
A long ball forward was flicked down into the parth of Walker in the area, who struck an effort on goal. The initial strike was well saved by James, only for Ben Pollock to inadvertently run into the Moors number one, forcing the ball out of his hands, and giving Walker the space to tap home.
It could have been two just six minutes later, as Bennett dispatched a downward header following a connection with an inswinging corner. The ball looked to be going in, only to drop wide at the last moment.
Loanee, Kian Foreman went agonisingly close to equalising with one minute of normal time to go, when he hit a wicked effort just inside the right of the penalty area. His effort was brilliantly diverted wide by the outstretched gloves of Whitley.
Another substitute, Frank Nouble also saw an effort stopped by Whitley, deep in to added time. Although this time, the ball flew straight into the arms of the Scarborough stopper who comfortably made the save.
Moors had one final chance to drag themselves level and rescue a point, when Glen Taylor was set up to fire a free-kick from the edge of the area. However, when the shot came in, it was blocked by the Scarborough wall and eventually cleared.
Full Time: Scarborough Athletic 1 Moors 0
Scarborough Athletic: Whitley, Weledji, Hull, Thornton, Duckworth (Maloney 65), Purver, Waldron, Waldron, Colville, Bennett (Allan 86).
Subs not used: Green, Mensah, Shehu.
Booked: Weledji (12).
Moors: James, Pollock, Broadbent (Hill 68), Jones, Stephenson (Foreman 88), Heaney, Beals (Mondal 33), McKeown, Williams (Nouble 79), Ramshaw, Taylor.
Subs not used: Johnson, Hancox, Dolan.
Referee: Lewis Dawson
Attendance: 1,149
Report by Noah Betts