Vauxhall Motors 2 Northwich Vics 1
VICS will not be needing the slot set aside on Tuesday to replay Vauxhall Motors – but not for the reasons they expected.
In a game of chances, it was the Blue Square North strugglers who made the most of it to post a shock 2-1 victory against Northwich.
Referee Mo Matadar was escorted from the pitch to protect him from angry fans after two Vics goals were controversially ruled offside.
The visitors’ woes were further compounded by a recurrence of Lee Steele’s hamstring problem.
The first chance fell to Vics on five minutes, but keeper Murphy, who started the season with the greens on loan from Preston, was equal to Greg Strong’s shot.
Scott Tynan then gifted the Motormen their first goal, watching helplessly as Tom Field’s shot left his grasp to trickle over the line.
Vauxhall’s star striker made life difficult for Tynan throughout, skipping round defenders to rain in shots. Steele kept Motors on their toes at the other end with a shot on 22 minutes that rolled wide.
Lucas Akins headed wide seven minutes later before Ryan Brown saved Vics blushes on half-time with a spectacular diving header to deny Taylor again.
Straight after the break, sub Mike Byrne set Luke Horrocks away, who crossed for Steele to convert. It was his last action before injury gave Farquharson a run out.
On 68 minutes Taylor embarrassed the Vics defence, skipping past four players, but Tynan blocked his shot. Akins then followed up Mike Byrne’s shot after it ricocheted off the crossbar but the effort was ruled offside. Ged Brannan made them pay with a header past Tynan on 75 minutes.
Two minutes later Danny Williams was booked for fouling Taylor, and after the melee which ensued, Kerr received a second yellow.
Ten-man Vics pushed for an equaliser but Farquharson was also ruled offside after following up a Danny Williams low drive, before Murphy saved from Akins.
