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Motors Earn Good Draw
By Craig Haddock and Andrew Nixon
July 20 2003
A very good performance by Vauxhall Motors as they faced Tranmere Rovers of Division 2. Through the whole game it was difficult to see any sort of gap between the two clubs.

The Motormen started the game well as a pass came to Carl Nesbitt who let the ball run to Nicky Young who fired the shot straight at Rovers shot stopper John Achterberg.

Sean Connelly then got the better of Stuart Wright down the right hand side but his cross was well dealt with by Motors full back Derek Ward who headed clear for a throw.

Soon after, Rovers kept up some good passing moves and were rewarded with a free kick. Nicolson took the free kick and placed a perfect cross to Allen and the ball went passed Motors goalkeeper Andy Ralph, but fortunately for Vauxhall the referee spotted an infringment. The free kick was to be taken again by Taylor but Craig Robinson headed clear. Then came a free kick that Carl Nesbitt took but failed to pick anyone out and the ball was headed behind for a corner. Peter Cumiskey took the resulting corner but was easily dealt with by John Achterberg. Then their was the first stoppage of the half when new boy Chris Whelan fouled Allen and left the Rovers striker in pain.

Vauxhall should have scored from an excellent through ball from Terry Fearns left Nicky Young one-on-one with the keeper but took to long on the ball and John Achterberg blocked the shot and a corner was the outcome. Terry Fearns continued to create some good attacks for the home side and played Kevin Lynch in on goal but he failed to stay on side.

It was now Rovers turn to mount an attack when the ball eventually found Taylor on the right who crossed to Simon Haworth who tried an amitious scissor kick. A few minutes later full back Neil Rigby played a long ball for Terry Fearns to run on to but he was caught offside. Rovers had another good spell towards the end of the half when the ball was played inside to Haworth but he failed to trouble Ralph who watched the ball go well over.

The last attack of the half went Vauxhall way when Neil Rigby picked out Nicky Young who was unable to direct his header on goal.

Half Time: Vauxhall Motors 0-0 Tranmere Rovers

A new look Vauxhall Motors side took the field for the second half. They included 7 debutants and 3 were Tranmere youngsters released by the Prenton Park outfit, Jamie Hughes, Gareth Hooper, Alan Griffiths. Anton Lally, Neil McMann, Chris Jewell and Camara completed the debutants while Steve Morgan appeared up front and Hilto (Steve Hilton) replaced Andy Ralph between the sticks. It was a good performance by Ralph against the club who released him, the 20 year-old shot stopper coped with what Haworth and Allen could throw at him. As Lynch went off Craig Robinson took the captain's armband for the second half.

Tranmere made just 2 half time changes Kevin Gray and Shane Nicolson were replaced by Ian Sharps and Alex Hay. Early in the second half a cross from the right saw Haworth headed over.

The 52nd minute saw the arrival of Iain Hume, just back from International duty with Canada, replaced the injured Jonny Allen. Taylor struck a long range free-kick just to high and didn't cause Hilto to many problems.

Hume made his mark by out-pacing The Motors defence, but shot just wide of the near post. Danny Harrison replaced Ryan Taylor.

Steve Morgan found away through the Division 2 back line, but his shot was well saved by the Dutch keeper Achterberg.

Rovers pushed for a break through against the UniBond outfit, but nothing could work Hay's good strike was denied by Steve Hilton. Again Rovers pushed on to draw the first blood, but this time Hilton kept Hume at bay with a great low save.

Robinson had a few heart in mouths, when Rovers looked to be through on goal only for him to make a dramatic and vital sliding interception to deny Hume.

Motors lauched a last-gasp attack with a through ball from Anton Lally, which fell for ex-Rovers youngster Jamie Hughes who controlled it well and struck a shot which look in, but for a good stop by John Achterberg.

Full Time: Vauxhall Motors 0-0 Tranmere Rovers

Man of the Match:

Craig Robinson - For an inspired performance and although it was just a friendly deserved his shot as captain. Keep it up Robbo!

Teams:

Motors: Ralph 7 (Hilton 7), Ward 6 (Camara 5), Rigby 7, Robinson 9, Whelan 7 (Griffiths 6), Lynch 7 (Hooper 6), Nesbitt 6 (Lally 5), Cumiskey 8, (McCann 6), Fearns 6 (Hughes 6), Young 7 (Morgan 7), Wright 6 (Jewell 6)

Rovers: Achterberg, Connelly, Roberts, G Allen, Gray (Sharps), Mellon (Navarro), Taylor (Harrison), Jones, Haworth, J Allen (Hume), Nicolson (Hay) Subs Not Used: Howarth

Attendance: 1,051

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