THIS week marks the 10th anniversary of the most famous result in Vauxhall Motors’ history – an FA Cup giantkilling which thrust the club into the national spotlight and put the Ellesmere Port club firmly on the map.
On November 27, 2002, the Motormen achieved one of the great first-round upsets by beating Queens Park Rangers on penalties in a replay at Loftus Road – and this week we have dipped into the Pioneer picture archive to remind readers of that epic night.
The two sides had fought out a 0-0 draw 10 days earlier, a match switched to Chester’s Deva Stadium to accommodate a crowd of 3,507.
Three divisions separated the clubs and Alvin McDonald’s men travelled south for the replay knowing they were rank outsiders. But they delivered a truly heroic display, winning the shootout after securing a 1-1 draw over 90 minutes plus 30 minutes of extra time.
Andy Thomson put QPR ahead in the 18th minute but Vauxhall skipper Phil Brazier soon levelled. The Motormen’s hero in the shootout was 19-year-old goalkeeper Andy Ralph, who saved Paul Furlong’s spot-kick to help the visitors seal a thrilling win.
Hoops manager Ian Holloway said it was the ‘worst day I’ve ever had in the office’, while a jubilant McDonald beamed: “It’s absolutely fabulous. I would never write these lads off.”
Motors’ brave run ended in the second round as they lost to Macclesfield Town in a televised tie.
Vauxhall v QPR: Ralph, Lawton, Brazier, Collins, McDermott, Nesbitt, Aspinall, Haddrell, Cumiskey, Fearns, Young. Subs: Hogg, Thompson, Lynch, Ward, Welton.
Motors, who this week signed left-back Louis Barnes from Southport, were without a fixture at the weekend. They return to action on Saturday at Stalybridge.
