by Ray Steele

CAMMELL Laird's superb run in both the FA Cup and FA Vase continues.

Last Wednesday, they welcomed neighbours Marine to Kirklands, Rock Ferry in an FA Cup second qualifying round tie - and pulled off a magnificent 3-1 win over a club that operates in a league two levels higher than Laird in the 'football pyramid'.

The breakthrough came after 30 minutes, when Laird were awarded a penalty for handball. With his second penalty against Marine within a few days, Jamie McGuire hit an unstoppable shot into the top corner of the net.

Right on the half-time whistle, Carl Clampitt virtually sealed the game for Laird with a well worked goal down the right to give the Birkenhead side a 2-0 interval lead.

Come the second-half, come the rains - what a downpour, it lashed down with Biblical proportions!

Laird made it 3-0 on 53 minutes with a deflected shot from Stuart Wright which ended up in the back of the Marine goal, ably assisted by a hurricane wind and driving rain.

Marine pulled a goal back on 80 minutes through Carl Rendell, but the outcome was never seriously in doubt.

Laird's reward is a third qualifying round away tie at Conference North side Hucknall Town this Saturday (October 8), kick-off 3pm (definitely Saturday at 3pm, no changes for the England game on the TV!).

The Carlsberg West Cheshire League, along with Mallaby Football Club have kindly agreed to a switch of Saturday's Mallaby v Cammell Laird Reserves Pyke Cup first round fixture. The game is being played tonight (Wednesday, October 5) at Kirklands (kick-off 7.30pm).

Laird are grateful to all concerned, as this enables them to take a full squad of players, and more supporters, to Hucknall Town.

Last Saturday, Laird marched on in their pursuit of the 'holy grail' - the FA Vase - with a comfortable 4-0 win over tough-tackling and uncompromising Atherton Collieries, who, like Laird, play in the North West Counties League.

Ian Cooke opened the scoring after 15 minutes and Jamie McGuire again took the 'man-of-the-match' award with two special goals in the second half, the first a spectacular shot on the turn, the second a half volley from the edge of the box.

John Couch, who came on as substitute for Carl Clampitt after only 10 minutes, rounded off a fine performance with a splendid headed goal.

In the next round, Laird have been drawn away at Consett - another trip to the North East. They had a great win in the last round, and play in the Northern League Division Two . . . a difficult tie is in prospect at the end of October!