Cammell Laird 1907 2 v 3 Vauxhall Motors

 In a bruising local derby, Vauxhall had to come from behind twice to secure another league victory at Kirklands on Boxing Day, courtesy of two late goals from substitute Ryan Cox in the final ten minutes.

 The Motormen had plenty of decent possession and good chances in the first half but found themselves trailing 1-0 at the interval. A bad injury to Callum Hulmston early on was quickly followed by Lairds opener, when Luke Blondell broke clear in the inside right position and finished well from outside the area, firing into the bottom far corner beyond Ryan Crump.

Mick McGraa’s side created several openings but home keeper Richie Cowderoy made some superb saves to deny Joe Heath, Glenn Rule and Haydn Cooper. Just before the break Motors looked to have equalised but Tom Mitchell’s header was ruled out for an infringement on the keeper.

Three minutes after the interval, Motors drew level. Danny Cross’s shot was only partly parried by the home keeper but Karl Noon reacted quickest to turn the loose ball over the line. But six minutes later Lairds were back in front, when a deep free kick was headed home by former Motors player Ben Greenop, again from distance.

Noon was denied by a fine save low down from Richie on 75 minutes and time was ticking away fast before they finally gained an equaliser on 80 minutes. Cox cut in from the left flank and fired home via a defender’s leg and five minutes later, the Motormen were celebrating again, when a neat move from right to left, ended with Cox stabbed home from close range as he met the cross at the far post.

Vauxhall: Crump, Scarisbrick, Drummond, Gardner, Mitchell, Heath, Brandon, Rule, Noon (Willingham 87), Cooper (Holmes 75), Cross (Cox 67). Subs not used: Hamm, Carlin.