Vauxhall Motors 2 v 1 Abbey Hey
Mick McGraa’s squad returned to winning ways on Saturday, but they were made to fight all the way for the three points. Abbey Hey arrived at the Syncreon Arena having lost just two league games from their last nineteen matches and it showed early on, as they grabbed a 6th minute lead.
The visitors had begun brightly and an initial shot on target was blocked only to fall invitingly for Daryl Grant to fire across goal into the far corner for the opener from the inside right slot. And soon after Grant was only inches over the bar with a rasping drive before Motors began to assert themselves.
The Motormen began to turn the tables on Hey on 34 minutes when a corner taken by Karl Noon was flicked on at the near post. A small scramble ensued before the ball fell nicely for Michael Burkey to smash home from close range.
After the break, Motors upped the tempo and both Noon and Joe Brandon went close before dangerman Grant almost lobbed the visitors back in front. Hey keeper Ryan Livesey then thwarted Brandon at the second attempt before the hosts grabbed the lead on 65 minutes.
Noon with his back to goal served Burkey on the right and he made no mistake, again from close range, having got in front of his marker for his eleventh goal of the campaign. And that proved to be the winner, as Motors completed a league double over Abbey and with their other rivals also losing, it left Vauxhall in a very healthy position of being five points clear at the top with games still in hand.
Vauxhall: Crump, Gardner, Drummond, Carlin, Mitchell , Heath, Brandon (Cross 90), Rule, Noon (Hamm 87), Cooper , Burkey (Holmes 75). Subs not used: Cox, Willingham.
