Vauxhall Motors 2 v 0 Newcastle Benfield

A superb second half display from Mick McGraa’s side saw them crush the hopes of Newcastle Benfield to reach the Fourth Round of the Buildbase F. A. Vase at the Syncreon Arena on Saturday.

Motors were without three players through suspension and missing both Ryan Cox and Ben Holmes, but that didn’t stop them from recording an amazing fourteenth straight victory.

In a tense and largely forgettable first half chances were at a premium. Indeed, the Northern League visitors looked the stronger side in the opening half and went close on a couple of occasions without seriously testing home keeper Ryan Crump.

But it was a totally different story after the break, as the Motormen upped the tempo and put the Benfield defence under threat. The breakthrough came on 59 minutes when a superb through ball fell for the lively Joe Brandon. He outpaced his marker and delicately placed the ball beyond the outracing keeper Andy Grainger into the empty net for the opening goal. Soon after Danny Cross also went close for the hosts.

Benfield were never out of contention whilst it remained 1-0 and had a strong claim for a penalty overruled by the referee but on 84 minutes, Motors grabbed an important second from the penalty spot. Michael Burkey played in substitute Kieran Hamm from the right, only for the striker to be brought down from behind inside the box.

With regular spot kick taker Karl Noon already off the pitch, Hamm, who had only been on the pitch a matter of minutes, took responsibility for the penalty and duly converted to give the home side a cushion, they never looked like throwing away, as they played out time, during which tormented visiting full back Matt Parker was shown a second yellow. It was Hamm’s first goal of the season.

Vauxhall: Crump, Scarisbrick, Drummond, Gardner, Carlin, Willingham (Downey 65), Brandon, Rule, Noon (Hamm 80), Cross, Burkey (Mason 88). Subs not used: Davey, Edgar, McCaffrey.