Stalybridge Celtic 1 Vauxhall Motors 0
MOTORS netted a spectacular goal at Stalybridge on Monday – unfortunately it flew past their own keeper as they slipped to their second Blue Square North defeat of the Easter weekend.
The visitors gave their all but the rigours of an impressive season have taken their toll on the players and boss Carl Macauley was forced to select from a threadbare squad.
A lively contest was settled when Jordan Holmes directed a header past despairing Motors keeper James Coates in the closing stages of the first half.
Vauxhall – beaten by Fleetwood on Saturday – had been dangerous from set-pieces early on and they twice came close to breaking the deadlock, Alan Griffiths and Tom Hannigan heading over the Stalybridge bar from corners.
At the other end, Celtic created openings of their own, Lee Ellington dragging his first shot wide before forcing Coates into a decent stop.
Moments later, Coates pulled off a superb save from Richard Battersby, diving low to palm out the winger’s effort wide.
From the corner Motors cleared and went straight up the other end of the pitch, where skipper Mattie Burke found himself one-on-one with Celtic keeper Paul Phillips – but the stopper was quick out to claim the ball.
With both keepers on sparkling form, only a moment of madness or magic would settle the game.
Which category the decisive goal falls into, is debatable. Andrew Smart delivered a wicked cross into the Motors box on the stroke of half-time and Holmes beat Ellington to it.
But his intended clearance bulleted off his forehead past the despairing dive of Coates.
After the break, Coates ensured Motors stayed within touching distance of their opponents with a series of good saves.
Former Chester City striker Alex Meechan forced a fingertip save from the keeper before Battersby drew a dramatic flying stop.
One-time Celtic player Tom Field had the chance to equalise but didn’t catch his shot well.
Substitute Adam Newbold then forced Coates into his finest stop of the day. Greg Wilkinson picked out Newbold in the box but his effort was kept out with a close-range reaction save for Motors.
Vauxhall: Coates, Hannigan, Dames, Egerton, Griffiths, Holmes, Holden, Burke, Marsh-Evans, Field, Noone. Subs: C Macauley, S Macauley, Mustafa.
Motors are inviting the players they have been able to contact from their first ever squad in 1963 to their final game of the season at the Motassist Arena against Kings Lynn.
They will be special guests as the club hands out its players’ player of the year, supporters’ player of the year and manager’s player of the year awards.
Vauxhall are away to Tamworth this Saturday (3pm).
