Magic of Mannix for Vauxhall

Feb 16 2011 by Our Correspondent, Birkenhead News

Hinckley United 2

Vauxhall Motors3

A DAVE Mannix strike midway through the second half settled this pulsating encounter in favour of the Motormen and moved them up to ninth in the Blue Square Bet North league.

The game was every bit as open as the final scoreline suggests with both sides wanting to play football however some dubious refereeing decisions could have ruined this entertaining game at The Greene King Stadium.

Hinckley took the lead on 26 minutes from the penalty spot. Impressive Vauxhall defender Tom Hannigan was adjudged to have impeded winger James Reid in the area when it looked like he had won the ball cleanly. The linesman flagged for a penalty and Reid beat Scott Tynan from the spot.

Vauxhall levelled just six minutes later when Obi Anoruo was brought down by Rikki Bains just outside the area and captain and man-of-the-match Josh Wilson stepped up to hit a perfectly placed free-kick past the stranded Hinckley keeper Ian Deakin that went in off the inside of the post.

The Motormen took the lead five minutes before the interval when a well placed Chris Noone cross found Craig Mahon in the middle who laid the ball off to Anoruo in the area and his instinctive left footed strike beat Deakin.

The two sides were level again on 56 minutes when Conner Gudger linked up well with James Reid before the latter beat two men then squared the ball for veteran striker Gary Ricketts who made no mistake.

Keith Smith floated in a dangerous corner from the right which evaded the crowd of players in the box and fell to the unmarked Dave Mannix at the far post who connected with a fine left footed strike which nestled into the bottom left hand corner of the net.

Vauxhall: Tynan, Noone, Grocott, Taylor, Hannigan, Mannix, Mahon (Prince 87), Smith (King 85), Anoruo, Wilson, Grice (Roberts 63)

Subs not used: Wright, Ritchie

Attendance: 449