SATURDAY 22nd SEPTEMBER 2007

HUCKNALL TOWN 2 v 2 VAUXHALL MOTORS

BLUE SQUARE NORTH

Vauxhall’s suffered a huge blow before kick off when leading scorer Paul Taylor injured himself in the warm up and had to withdraw from the team as Motors slipped to defeat as their hosts gained their first win of the campaign.

Hucknall started the more lively of the two teams and showed their intent when Nikille Howells headed over early on.  Left sided Stepehen Akers continually caused problems for the Motors defence including a mazxy run that ended with his shot going agonisingly wide of keeper Sean Lake’s left hand post.

The hosts went ahead on 13 minutes through a scrappy goal when Dan Fletcher’s cross fell to Howell’s who’s initial shot cannoned of two Vauxhall defenders, the ball rebounded back to the tall striker Howells who followed up to bundle it over the line.

Motors hit back through efforts from Wright and Griffiths, the latter forcing home keeper Greg Smith into a finger-tip save over his crossbar.

Hucknall doubled their advantage after 25 minutes when McMahon was harshly adjudged to have brought down the man-of-the-match Howell’s who picked himself up to send Lake the wrong way from the resulting spot kick.  Indeed the he should have completed his hat-trick a minute before the break but shot wildy wide.

The Motormen had plenty of possession after the break but failed to create a single clear-cut chance, but instead were left to trying their luck from long distance.  Both Smith and Garrity (twice) had attempts from 25 yards, Garrity’s second effort brought a flying save from Smith tipping the Motor’s captain’s shot over.

The Motormen now need to pick themselves up ahead of next Saturday’s FA Cup trip to the North East to face Unibond Premier League side Gateshead, where the proverbial banana skin awaits.

Vauxhalls: Lake, Hotte, Holmes, Griffiths, McMahon (Moogan 45), Kelly, Garrity, Field (Hadzik 45), Wright, Johnson, Furlong (Smith 60). Subs not used: Hitchen, Longrigg