WEDNESDAY 26th DECEMBER 2007

VAUXHALL MOTORS 0 v 2 BARROW

BLUE SQUARE NORTH

Vauxhall’s slid to a disappointing home defeat against Barrow, having started this Boxing Day fixture at Rivacre Park in the ascendancy. 

Both sides created a host of opportunities, with home skipper Tom Field twice going close with driven efforts.  The first just cleared the angle of crossbar and upright and the second just wide on the other side, while Motors keeper Andrew Murphy kept out an early shot from Andy Bond, who had made space on the right side of Motors defence, the keeper racing out to smooth his shot. 

The Bluebiirds took the initiative on 23 minutes, when Matt Henney raced through the inside right channel before firing beyond Murphy for the opener, with the home defence stretched.

Visiting striker Jason Walker wasted a great chance to double that lead after good work by the impressive Bond before his keeper Tim Deasy pulled off a superb save going well to his left to deny a Paul Taylor with a rasping right foot shot that looked as if it was arrowing towards the top corner.

On the resumption Motors squandered a glorious chance to level up the scores on 54 minutes, when Jonathan Egerton was blatantly brought down in the box as he attempted to play a one-two, only for Deasy to continue his heroics by saving Taylor’s resultant spot kick, guessing correctly which side the Vauxhall striker had targeted.

Former Motors players Steve McNulty and Lee Woodyatt both had goalbound efforts cleared close to the line as the sides continued to trade attacking thrusts, but close to time Barrow wrapped up the points courtesy of a harshly awarded penalty by the senior assistant having taken over the whistle from the match official in the 75th minute due to a hamstring injury. 

The deputy adjudged that Murphy brought down Walker, when the keeper clearly played the ball first in a race across the area for a loose ball.  Up stepped McNulty to confidently convert his spot kick, firing well to the left of Murphy from twelve yards to give the keeper no chance.

Vauxhall: Murphy, Owens, Marsh-Evans, Field, Holmes, Brannan, Heler, Griffiths (Hitchen 57), Wignall (Wright 60), Egerton, Taylor.  Sub not used: Reed, McMahon, Dames.