Witton 2-1 Vauxhall Motors

Jul 28 2010 by Our Correspondent, Birkenhead News

AN own goal from Chris Noone settled matters in this competitive friendly at Wincham Park.

The Motormen started brightly playing neat football and nearly took the lead after just six minutes when a Tom Field effort from the right wing struck the Witton crossbar.

Shortly after, both Karl Noon and Keith Smith went close but after 29 minutes, and against the run of play, the home side took the lead when striker Chris Smith latched onto a Dave MacPherson ball and slotted the ball past new Vauxhall keeper Scott Tynan.

The lead was extended in the 38th minute when an inswinging Adam Foy corner from the leftŠwas sliced into his own net at the near post by the unfortunate Noone.

At the other end Matt Cooper produced a great double save to thwart Karl Noon.

Thirteen minutes after the break it was Tynan's turn to produce a couple of saves within a minute as twice he denied MacPherson.

Noon did finally get on the scoresheet when a minute from time he finished confidently from close range following good work on the left by Tom Grice and it needed a terrific diving save from Cooper to deny Noon an equaliser by pushing the low shot out for a corner just before the final whistle.

Vauxhall : Tynan, Noone, Dames, Taylor, Hannigan, Smith, Grice, Brown, Noon, Wilson, Field. Subs: Egerton, Mboa, Wright, Coates

Next up for Vauxhall is a home friendly on Saturday, July 31 against Leigh Genesis at Rivacre Park (3pm).

PHIL JARVIS