Penalty Knocks Motors Out

Vauxhall came out and played very well in the opening stages against a full strength Hucknall side. The first chance fell to the visitors when Danny Maymen was left unmarked but could not direct his header on goal. The second scare was from Maymen again who was left all alone again but the scores remained at 0-0 as his shot went straight over the bar. Vauxhall’s defence settled down after that and from then on looked confident.

The home side started to create numerous of chances starting with Terry Fearns who saw his effort go across the goal and behind for a goal kick. Carl Nesbitt then blasted the ball towards goal and Robbie Lawton nearly made the most of it as he slid in at the far post but unfortunately could not make contact with the ball. Not long after Alan Griffiths hit a powerful shot that looked in all the way only for a Town defender to deflect it over the bar and out for a corner.

Half Time: Vauxhall Motors 0-0 Hucknall Town

After the restart The Motormen upped the tempo and were nearly rewarded with the first goal as a Carl Nesbitt corner was flicked on by the skipper Kevin Lynch but Terry Fearns was unable to get a shot away as he had his back to goal.

The visitors had the next opportunity but Mark Ward volleyed well wide of Dittmar’s goal and then at the other end Fearns struck over the bar and Peter Cumiskey also came close with his header.

Then came the turning point when a controversial penalty was rewarded for handball. An extremely harsh decision led to Vauxhall going behind as McCarthy converted from 12 yards.

Moments later Tony Dittmar, making his home debut in between the sticks, pulled off two great saves to deny Hunter and Ricketts.

Manger Owen Brown told the Pioneer "I didn't feel we were under pressure or threat at any stage of the game. We dealt well with their height and high balls into the area. The back four and the keeper did what they had to do - I just couldn't see them scoring. We on the other hand, looked more threatening. We had a couple of what were more than reasonable chances.

"A stranger to the game would have believed that if either of the sides on view were top of the league, I think they would have had to say it was the side in white shirts on the balance of play. It proved again there is only a very fine line in this competitive division. I thought the penalty was a very, very harsh decision and cost us the game and it was only after that, when we were chasing the game, that our keeper had to make a save."

"We now seem to be achieving a level of performance we have been striving for," he stressed. "We have a lot of ability in the side and I'm convinced that in the weeks ahead, we will get the results we deserve - it has got to turn in our favour.

"We now need to take heart from our recent performances against two of the top three clubs in the league. We have nothing to be disappointed about. We need to be positive, starting with our next game, a big local derby against Southport on Saturday."

Man of the Match: Tony Dittmar for a great home debut and pulling off some excellent saves. He could only be beaten via a penalty kick.

Full Time: Vauxhall Motors 0-1 Hucknall Town

Teams:

Motors: Dittmar, Spellman (Rey 84), McDermott, Robinson, Griffiths (Cullen 46), Lynch, Nesbitt, Lawton, Fearns, Porter (McCann 74), Cumiskey.

Attendance: 151