Report by Ethan Hoijord | Photo by Marc Gibbs

Mick McGraa’s Vauxhall Motors extended their winning start to the NWCFL Premier Division with another emphatic 5-0 win with goals being scored by Bobbie McDonnell, Michael Burkey and a hat-trick from Lewis Buckley.

 

The visitors, managed by Craig Davies, started the ninety in a positive fashion as a shot from Edward Servuts was saved well by goalkeeper Matthew Corran who managed to claw away Robert Oseh’s powerful rebounded effort for a corner.

 

Bobbie McDonnell had the ball in the net as he beat his marker on the right post. However, the forward was ruled to be offside.

 

The hosts were starting to get into the game with some good passes into the forwards from midfield by Jordan Deer and Michael Burkey provided some exquisite crosses from the left but it was Joseph Heath that brought on this particular attack with a pin-point long ball.

 

Corran was brought into action once again as a great move between Burscough’s fullback Louis Sharp and forward Servuts resulted in a shot for Sharp, the effort was saved comfortably.

 

McDonnell edged Mick McGraa’s side in front with a volley into Jack Cookson’s bottom right corner. The summer signing from Macclesfield, after his hat-trick against Swallownest in the FA Vase on the weekend, had been showing his class with his movement into the central area from the right wing.

 

After Lewis Buckley’s effort was saved, he sensationally crossed the ball to Burkey. Motors were very close to doubling their lead but for a fantastic save from Cookson as he leaped to save the effort that was flying into his top right corner.

 

At the other end, a shot from Rodrigo Schmitdinger was fired over Corran’s crossbar.

 

A powerful Burscough free kick was fumbled by Corran shortly afterwards but he was able to collect it before the effort went over the line with a visiting attacker applying pressure.

 

Despite a few good Burscough attacks, Motors remained resilient in both attack and defence and were soon awarded a penalty. McDonnell’s ball into Burkey from the right resulted in a late tackle by a Burscough defender. Lewis Buckley made no mistake from the spot, the keeper diving the wrong way as the ball was fired into the right hand side of the net.

 

HALF TIME. 2-0 Motors. Bobbie McDonnell, Lewis Buckley.

 

The Motors started the second half on the front foot but were unable to create any clear cut chances with McDonnell’s dazzling feet the highlight of the opening ten minutes.

 

The forward brought the ball past a few Burscough defenders on the right hand side of the box but his effort went just wide of the left post.

 

The first yellow card of the game was dished out to Burscough’s captain Joshua Dobie as he tackled Burkey when he was running through on goal. McDonnell took the free kick and his effort, like the one before, went just wide of the left.

 

Motors had a great chance to extend their lead when Burkey brought the ball down before passing to Sean Moscrop but the effort was cleared well on the line.

 

Burscough made a hat-trick of substitutions, in the hope of changing the game when Craig Davies, Bradley Elms and Harrison O’Donnell replaced Louis Sharp, Robert Oseh and Adam Boydell. This totalled their changes to four as Junior Dos Santos replaced Jacob Lawless-Lawton at half time.

 

The two-goal lead was eventually extended to three when Buckley netted his second of the game, his effort was excellently dinked past Cookson into the bottom right corner as Buckley moved well on the left.

 

McGraa made his first change of the afternoon when McDonnell, who netted the opening strike, was replaced by Jamie Eaton. This was shortly followed by a double substitution as Heath and Deer were replaced by Ben Dufton-Kelly and Marcus James.

 

Buckley got the better of Burscough’s Dobie in the box after a throw-in but he was unable to net his third as the effort was fired past the post before two further substitutes were made by McGraa with Heath and Deer being replaced by Ben Dufton-Kelly and Marcus James.

 

Burscough’s Davies could’ve arguably been sent off for a late tackle on Burkey. However, it was a yellow card that was given.

 

Burkey got his revenge with a goal shortly afterwards when an effort that seemed to be a cross sunk into the bottom corner.

 

The visitors were close to scoring a consolation goal when Davies found Servuts with a long ball.

 

However, it was the hosts that scored the final goal of the ninety when Buckley netted his hat-trick, to make the scoreline 5-0, when he dinked the ball over Cookson into the bottom left corner.

 

Motors are next in action on Saturday afternoon when they face Longridge Town at The VanEupen Arena. All support for McGraa’s side is appreciated thus we look forward to seeing you there!

 

MOTORS line-up, managed by Mick McGraa: Matthew Corran, Matthew Beaman, Greg Drummond, Joseph Heath (75’), Thomas Mitchell ©, Haydn Cooper, Michael Burkey, Sean Moscrop, Lewis Buckley, Bobbie McDonnell (71), Jordan Deer (75’). SUBS: Marcus James (75’), James Eaton (71’), Adam Smith, Ben Dufton-Kelly (75’), Lucas Allan.

 

BURSCOUGH line-up, managed by Craig Davies: Jack Cookson, Louis Sharp (60’), Rodrigo Schmitdinger, Joshua Dobie ©, Nathan Koehler, Jacob Lawless-Lawton (45’), Robert Oseh (60’), Adam Boydell (60’), Ashley Ruane, Dominic Ross-Hesketh, Edward Servuts. SUBS: Junior Dos Santos (45’), Bradley Elms (60’),  Harrison O’Donnell (60’), Craig Davies (60’).