TUESDAY 5th FEBRUARY 2008

ALTRINCHAM 2 v 1 VAUXHALL MOTORS

CHESHIRE COUNTY F.A. UNIBOND SENIOR CUP SEMI FINAL

An under-strength Vauxhall side pushed the Robins from the Blue Square Premier all the way in this last four contest, but lost out having gaining an assured performance due to a little wayward finishing.

Motors began well before Alty began to dominate, taking the early on 19 minutes when Greg Young headed home their first corner of the tie, five minutes after their Colin Little raced through in space but with only Andrew Murphy to beat dragged his shot wide.

The Motormen, without Craig Robinson, Ged Brannan, Lee Dames, Jonathan Egerton and Peter Heler, fought back gamely. Twice Paul Taylor went very close to equalizing only for his efforts to go just the wrong side of the far upright on each occasion.

But on 39 minutes they did drew level when Tom Field played a fine pass to Taylor, who worked space on to his right foot before drilling home a shot just inside the post.

On the resumption, the hosts regained the lead on 57 minutes, when Carlos Logan was played in down the left and his low cross was converted at the near post by Joe O’Neill.  Motors manager Andy Mutch then scarificed Richie Gresty for an extra striker, Dave Roberts and he was literally only inches away from leveling up the scores again on two separate occasions – but ultimately, for all their decent approach play, it was that final cutting edge in their finishing that saw them fail to reach the final.

Vauxhall: Murphy, Williams, Owens, Field, Holmes, Gresty (Roberts 61), Hitchen, Griffiths, Reed, Smith, Taylor.  Sub not used: Macauley, Rigby.