TUESDAY 25th SEPTEMBER 2007

VAUXHALL MOTORS 4 v 3 ALSAGER TOWN aet

CHESHIRE COUNTY F.A. UNIBOND SENIOR CUP 1st ROUND

A depleted Motors side lacking both strikers, struggled to see off Unibond League Division One South club Alsager in the county cup at a cold Riavcre Park on Tuesday night, eventually getting the better of their opponents in extra time. 

Indeed, they were just eight minutes away from being ousted themselves, but thanks to a second equaliser from midfielder Keith Smith, they did managed to take the tie into an added half hour and then home substitute Dave Roberts, making his senior debut struck twice in quick succession to ease Motors towards victory.

But undoubtedly the hero of the night was Alsager’s keeper Matt Conkie, who made a string of fine saves to keep the Motormen at bay, whilst the woodwork also came to his rescue on two other occasions. 

Alsager struck after just eight minutes, when Dave Whittaker struck a sweet right-foot drive to Sean Lake’s right for the opener.  The hosts leveled just a couple of minutes later, when Anthony Wright cleverly played in Steve Johnson behind the Town defence and his cross from the bye line was nodded home by Smith from close in.

Shortly after, Wright was put clean through but his delayed shot cannoned back off the near post and jusy before the break, Conkie made his first outstanding save, palming away a decent shot, again from Wright from the edge of the area.

But Motors were rocked back on their heels again on 70 minutes, when Alsager substitute Chris Smith was nicely played through with both Motors’ central defenders drawn out of position, and he did not waste the opportunity, as he volleyed beyond the reach of Lake to restore their advantage.  Just two minutes later, Joe McMahon crashed a powerful header against the underside of the bar and shortly after, Conkie produced another excellent save to deny the tall defender.

Vauxhall’s increased pressure finally paid dividends in the 83rd minute, when Alan Griffiths long throw, was nodded on to Smith, who neatly turned his marker before firing into the bottom right corner, to square the scores once more.

Before extra time, Conkie produced two more fine saves to deny Motors an ordinary time success,  from Smith and another McMahon header.  It wasn’t long before the home side were reduced to ten men when McMahon was forced out of the action through injury, yet ironically, it was then that they finally took control of the tie, with two quick-fire goals from half time substitute Dave Roberts.

The first, bang on 100 minutes into the game, was driven through the legs of Alsager’s keeper and shortly after he was undone again, as Roberts squeezed the loose ball between near post and keeper, following another smart save.

Danny Smith reduced the arrears from the spot in the second period, following the award of a very harshly given penalty, but Alsager did not have much left to give despite a gallant effort on their part.

Vauxhall: Lake, Moogan, Hadzik (16. Griffiths 76), Hitchen, McMahon, Smith, Garrity, Field (12. Roberts 46), Wright, Johnson, Clarke.  Sub not used: 13. Longrigg, 14. Macauley.