INFLUENTIAL midfielder Michael Burns scored a 76th-minute penalty to earn Vauxhall Motors a much-needed point on Saturday.

Burns kept his cool from 12 yards as Motors stopped the rot in Blue Square Bet North after three successive defeats by drawing 2-2 at Bishop’s Stortford.

The outcome could have been even better for Carl Macauley’s men as Bishop’s played the final stages of the game with a defender in goal after keeper Luke Chambers was sent off.

Motors host Hinckley United on Saturday (3pm). A trip to league rivals Stalybridge Celtic in the FA Cup follows seven days later.

Under-strength and out-of-form Malpas crashed out of the Cheshire League Division Two Cup on Saturday as they went down 5-0 at home to Poynton.

Malpas boss Lea Edge, who lost Mike Williams to injury, said: “A settled team is key in football and at this time we have not got it. It’s my job to sort it out and it will happen.”

The Chester & District FA is running a course for new referees.

The course takes place at Chester FC between 10am-4pm on September 23, 30, October 7 and 14 and costs £95.

For further information contact Dave Powell on 01244 322 272.

Chester and District Girls have made a flying start to the Cheshire Girls Under 14s League, producing a fantastic performance to win 9-0 at home to Crewe and Nantwich.