Tuesday 16th August 2022, NWCFL Premier Division

Vauxhall Motors 2 (Buckley 74, Moscrop 90+5)
West 0
Att: 191

West slipped to a first defeat of the season at Vauxhall Motors.

Two second-half goals ensured the home side took an entertaining game, albeit one where most of the action took place outside the two boxes, and continued their flawless start to the season.

Chris Rowley’s side gave as good as they got in the first half, with Dontai Gabidon striking the crossbar. Vauxhall were the stronger team after the break and were ultimately deserved winners, but the West boss will take the positives from a competitive showing against a side who look equipped for a serious promotion challenge.

Vauxhall, on nine points from nine coming into the game, were the first to threaten – Michael Burkey cutting in from the left flank before unleashing a shot which clipped Andrew Jones’ bar on its way over. A few minutes later Gabidon produced an almost mirror image of Burkey’s effort at the other end – jinking in from the right and rattling the far corner woodwork.

The sides then exchanged headed half-chances, with Liam Delaney nodding a Curtis Miller centre across the face of goal and wide, but a combative first period ended scoreless.

The home side picked up the pace after the restart and began to dominate territory, though Andrew Jones was still relatively untroubled. However, it wasn’t a complete surprise when Lewis Buckley broke the deadlock with 16 minutes remaining, his shot wrongfooting Jones and finding its way into the bottom corner of the net.

West toiled in an attempt to force an equaliser, with Tom Westall having a shot charged down and subsititue Sam Dickinson nodding wide from a late corner. But Sean Moscrop wrapped up the points with the last notable action – as West threw players forward, he was left free to lash a half-volley past Jones and into the roof of the net.

West: A. Jones, Cook, Westall, Delaney (Eme 55), Hampson, Foulds, Miller, Gavin (C. Jones 66), Swift (Elliott 55), Sheridan (Dickinson 82), Gabidon (Ryan 78).

Eckersley’s Plumbers & Locksmiths Player of the Match: Markell Foulds.

Chris Rowley reaction

“I thought in the first half we did well and I thought we edged it. We went out for the second half with the intention of doing the same but we allowed far too much pressure and ultimately we paid the price.

“But we have to look at the positives and the overall position we are in having come into the league. We now move on to Friday which is a massive game – and one we 100% will be ready for.”