RUNCORN LINNETS  6 v 1 VAUXHALL MOTORS

 

Vauxhall Motors crashed out of the Cheshire Senior Cup as ruthless Linnets underlined their two-division higher status with a stunning first half hour, taking an unassailable 4-0 lead in that time.

It took the hosts, riding high in the Evo-Stik League, just five minutes to open their account, when Bobby Herons srtuck a superb angled shot from the left-hand side of the box into the far corner of the net. Nine minutes later, Linnets had doubled that advantage following a corner and Kurt Sherlock fired home the second. Motors were then denied an obvious penalty when Joe Brandon was fouled inside the box, but the referee awarded the free kick outside the area which came to nothing.

Runcorn went 3-0 ahead on 22 minutes when a rather fortunate looking intervention saw Sherlock turn a left-wing cross into the net. Vauxhall responded with a fine effort from Ben Greenop which the home keeper turned over the bar, after Tom Murray had set up the chance with an inch perfect through ball.  The home side made it 4-0 on the half hour, with a smart right foot shot from Bobby Evans – but after this it was the Motormen who were posing most of the questions.

Luke Edwards saw a superb left foot drive clip the outside of the far post from 22 yards before the break and after it, Danny Cross, Brandon and Haydn Cooper all had decent efforts on the Linnets goal.  And on 61 minutes, Motors gained some reward when the lively Brandon was bulked inside the area and the referee pointed to the spot.  Cross converted the resultant penalty in style. But any hope Motors had of an unlikely comeback where quickly dispelled when Callum McCarthy back heeled the hosts fifth goal just six minutes later from a right-wing cross.

And if that was not the pick of the goals then the subsequent thunderbolt from Zak Aley definitely was, coming on 72 minutes and giving Kristofer Leigh absolutely no chance from the edge of the box. Substitute Ben Holmes went close for Motors after this but by now the tie was well and truly out of sight for the visitors.

Vauxhall:  Leigh, Quinn, Mason, Drysdale, Carlin, Cooper, Edwards, Murray (Holmes 60), Greenop (Mitchell 83), Brandon, Cross.  Sub not used; Scarisbrick, Schumacker.