VAUXHALL MOTORS  1 v 3 RUNCORN TOWN

 

Vauxhall crashed out of the F. A. Vase at the Second Round stage at the Syncreon Arena last Friday evening before a decent crowd just in excess of 300.  The Motormen had a great chance to take an early lead, when they were awarded a penalty for handball after 12 minutes but the normally reliable Danny Cross shot tamely from the spot enabling Town keeper Adam Reid to save.  Shortly after the same Vauxhall player had another decent chance to score.

The visitors, riding high in the Hallmark Security League Premier Division, took the lead on 22 minutes when a great through ball enabled Simon Thelwell to slip the ball beyond the advancing home keeper Kristofer Leigh from the inside left channel. The Motormen fell further adrift on the stroke of half time, when Thelwell struck again, this time with a well taken header from a left wing cross.

Vauxhall came out for the second half with renewed vigor, spraying passes across the field but chances were still at a premium and to make matters worse, Runcorn went 3-0 up after 54 minutes when Harry Brazel struck an absolute peach from the inside right post from all of 25 yards and well beyond the reach of the stranded Leigh. The visitors were reduced to ten men soon afterwards when Marcus James was dismissed for kicking an opponent.

Motors continued to play some fine approach football with little reward until the very closing moments of the tie, when substitute Ben Greenop struck a right footed shot against the face of the far post only for top scorer Ben Holmes to rifle home the rebound from 12 yards.

Vauxhall:  Leigh, Drysdale, Schumacker (Mason), Carlin (Greenop), Mitchell, Cooper (Webb), Edwards, Murray, Holmes, Brandon, Cross.  Sub not used: Exell, Drummond.