Harrogate Town 2 Vauxhall 2

Apr 10 2003 Christopher Beesley, Ellesmere Port Pioneer

VAUXHALL FC manager Alvin McDonald praised his team's fighting qualities as they battled back from an early two-goal deficit to earn a point in North Yorkshire on Saturday.

McDonald said: 'I've got to be pleased with a point today in the circumstances as the pitch didn't help our style of play. We finished the game well and could have won it late on.

Harrogate started energetically and had already called Vaux-hall keeper Andy Ralph into action on a couple of occasions before taking the lead on 11 minutes.

Ralph had done well to tip a Robbie Whelton shot wide of the post when backtracking as he was caught off-balance but powerful centre forward Marc Smith headed in the resultant corner kick taken by Stuart Elliott.

Smith bagged his brace to double the home side's advantage just three minutes later with a smartly-taken effort from the edge of the area off Scott Bonsall's low right wing cross.

The Motormen's woe continued for over an hour with a couple of Terry Fearns' half-chances either side of the break their only glimpses of goalscoring opportunities.

Nicky Young handed Vauxhall a lifeline on 77 minutes when he stabbed home from six yards out after Harrogate failed to clear Mike Tomlinson's chipped free kick.

The hosts were visibly rocked and defender Paul Sykes had to acrobatically head a Derek Ward effort off the line.

But the Motormen were not to be denied a point as skipper Kevin Lynch rose unmarked at the back-post to head in a deep right wing cross from Peter Cumiskey in the 87th minute following a short corner from substitute Steve Aspinall.

Vauxhall: Ralph, Ward, McDermott (Aspinall 68), Robinson, Tomlinson, McMullen, Nesbitt, Lynch, Fearns (Lawton 68), Young, Cumiskey. Attendance

* The Motormen play host to Blyth Spartans on Saturday (3pm) with league leaders Accrington Stanley the visitors to Rivacre Park on Tuesday (7.45pm).

* The Vauxhall FC Supporters Association is running an executive coach with video and toilet to the game at Wakefield & Emley on Saturday, April 19.

Seats cost £6 and the coach leaves Rivacre Park at 11.30am with pick-ups at Little Sutton and Ellesmere Port Bus Station. To book your place call Ian Cowell 0151 625 7491. 355.