Alfreton Town 2-0 Vauxhall

Sep 8 2010 by Our Correspondent, Birkenhead News

VAUXHALL came to The Impact Arena with a game plan but were unfortunate to leave empty handed following a battling performance against the league leaders.

The home side have a 100 per cent record with seven wins out of seven and looked sharper and more physical on the day but Motors frustrated them for nearly an hour and didn’t give up the cause.

Motors were lucky to go in at the interval at 0-0 after Alfreton striker Liam Hearn hit the post twice in the first 45 minutes.

His first effort was in the seventh minute when his right footed drive beat Scott Tynan but came back off the inside of the far post.

After 30 minutes, Hearn blasted a penalty against the base of the same post after Vauxhall defender Rob Marsh-Evans had hauled down Paul Clayton in the penalty box.

Alfreton midfielder Connor Franklin broke the deadlock on 57 minutes with his first goal for the club, a thumping six yard header from a Josh Law right wing cross.

Man-of-the-match for Vauxhall was goalkeeper Scott Tynan who made a number of fine saves.

The most notable was a tremendous triple save after 75 minutes when he tipped Franklin’s 25 yard drive against the bar then kept out two close range follow ups from Matt Wilson.

Substitute Nathan Arnold added the second seven minutes from time when he was put through on goal and slotted home a low drive from eight yards out past the advancing Tynan.

After the game, Vauxhall Manager Carl Macauley said: “We knew it would be tough here and we set out to make it as difficult as possible for Alfreton but we switched off twice and got punished both times. You can’t do that against the top sides”.

Vauxhall: Tynan, Noone, Dames, Taylor, Hannigan, Marsh-Evans, Brown, Moogan (Mahon 71), Anoruo, Wilson, Egerton

Subs not used: Wright, Mboa, Nixon

Exciting prospect Craig Mahon has signed for Vauxhall from Evo-Stik Premier Division side Burscough as a replacement for the recently departed Karl Noon. Š

Manager Carl Macauley said: “Craig has signed and it’s great to have him on board, let’s hope he now fits in and does a good job for us”.

PHIL JARVIS