VAUXHALL MOTORS 3 v 2 STOCKPORT TOWN

Top scorer Holmes to the rescue!

Vauxhall played their get-out-of-jail card on Tuesday evening, just when it seemed as if their efforts were to be blunted once more.  It took an injury time goal from top scorer Ben Holmes to secure a hard-fought three points in the Hallmark Security League against a dogged Stockport Town side.

Motors got off to a perfect start, netting on just 8 minutes with an amazing goal from midfielder Hadyn Cooper.  He began the move with a superb inch-perfect pass from well inside his own half out to the left wing, where returned striker Karl Noon brought the pass under control before firing a cross towards the far post with his right foot. And coming in at the far post was Cooper who managed to squeeze the ball between keeper and the near post.

The visitors drew level on 20 minutes, not that they had any hand in the goal.  An innocuous cross from the right was turned beyond the reach of home keeper Kristofer Leigh by his own defender Matty Carlin from close in and who was under no pressure whatsoever.  Motors regained the initiative just six minutes later, having struck the crossbar in between from a free kick, when Holmes fired home from 14 yards after good build up play around the box.

But just two minutes later, Stockport were back on level terms again, when their man-of-the–match Festus Arthur was able to stab home from six yards following a free kick on the right.  Chances after this explosive first 28 minutes died out and the game was well into the latter stages of the contest before Motors finally rallied to exert some pressure on the visitors goal.

A head injury to Town keeper Alex Gorst saw his teammate Josh Robinson taking over the goalie’s gloves for the last 15 minutes and he pulled off a superb save from Danny Cross’ free kick shortly after efforts by Declan Drysdale and Ben Greenop had been blocked.  Then Holmes dragged a shot wide following an indirect free kick inside the area.  But the striker was not to be denied and three minutes into a large chunk of added time, he took a pass from Greenop before firing right into the top corner of the net and well beyond the reach of Robinson.

Vauxhall:  Leigh, Mason, Drummond, Carlin (Murray 50), Mitchell, Drysdale, Holmes, Cooper (Brandon 70), Noon (Quinn 77), Greenop, Cross.  Sub not used: Scarisbrick.