TUESDAY 2nd OCTOBER 2007

BURSCOUGH 2 v 0 VAUXHALL MOTORS

SETANTA SHIELD 1st ROUND

Vauxhall’s hopes of securing a hat-trick of cup victories inside eight days barely got off the ground, as Burscough eased their way passed the Motormen in the opening round of the Setanta Shield tie at Victoria Park.

The injury-hit Motors did have striker Paul taylor back in their starting line-up, but the loss of Alan Griffiths was perhaps more noticeable on the night, as the Linnets dominated the proceedings throughout.  And had it not been for keeper Sean Lake, a decent showing from the visitors rearguard marshaled by Mark Hotte and Shaun Kelly plus the woodwork, the margin of the home success could have been far more emphatic.

From the first whistle, Burscough, surprisingly ousted from the F. A. Cup at the weekend, took up the mantle and tested the Motors defence with a series of telling deep crosses and apart from one effort on the turn from Anthony Wright, the excitement was virtually all at one end of the ground.

Lake made a number of telling contributions to the cause and incredibly, almost secured a goalless first half until a long punt upfield by home keeper Tony McMillan was expertly volleyed over the Motors custodian from fully 25 yards out by Kevin Leadbetter to give the hosts a fully merited interval lead in the 43rd minute.  Indeed, it could have been two before the break but for Neil Robinson’s effort cannoning off the underside of the crossbar.

Assistant boss Andy Mutch introduced two substitutions in the first couple of minutes of the second half but the pattern of play never altered, as Burscough continued to look much the brighter – manager Carl Macauley was watching Vauxhall’s next F. A. Cup opponents in action.

And on 64 minutes, amazingly it was another long punt from McMillan that caught Motors out again as an element of hesitancy allowed Leadbetter in for a well crafted second.  And just two minutes later, the Motors bar was struck again, mainly thanks to the partial intervention of Lake.

And again apart from one isolated shot from Taylor which went wide of the target and a clever back-heel late on by Dave Roberts which ended with substitute Mike Garrity having a decent shot blocked, Motors offered so little going forward, as Burscough ran out comfortable winners to set up a meeting with Liam Watson’s previous club Southport.

Vauxhall: Lake, Moogan (12. Garrity 47), Marsh-Evans, Clarke, Kelly, Hotte, Field, Holmes (15. Egerton 47), Wright (14. Roberts 60), Johnson, Taylor.  Sub not used: 13. Longrigg, 16. Griffiths.