CAMMELL Laird 1907 beat Vauxhall Motors 2-1 in the ‘A41 Derby’ on Tuesday night as two second-half goals from the visitors won the game for Stuart Kier’s side.

The Motormen went into the midweek cup tie with a spring in their step after their Cheshire Senior Cup Final match details were announced the day before with the Ellesmere Port outfit set to face Stockport County at Edgeley Park on Tuesday, April 26.

But it was Lairds who went into the tie wanting to showcase their ability against a team from a higher division and this was something they succeeded in doing. 

Mick McGraa’s men started the evening in a really positive fashion, with penalty shouts waved away by the referee after Kieran Garner-Knapper was brought down in the box inside the opening few minutes.

Michael Burkey would open the scoreline not too long afterwards with a chipped effort that went over the goalkeeper from 30 yards out. It was a deserved lead as his side made their higher-league quality evident.

Ciaran O’Loughlin kept the Motors’ lead with two great saves halfway through the first half with McGraa’s men defending well as they were placed under pressure.

Burkey was the attacking star of the half as he looked for his second strike just before the referee’s whistle blew for the break, his late chance was cleared off the line.

Laird’s equaliser came before the hour mark through Ellis Bolton following a defensive mixup yet Motors would continue their attacking search with Leo Riley’s shot being another that was blocked on the line. 

Three substitutions would be made in quick succession by the hosts, a winning strike very much in their sights. However, there was ultimately very little goal action before Lairds progressed into the third round of the Macron Cup with a strike from Jay Harvey in the 89th minute. 

 

TEAMS:

Vauxhall Motors, managed by Mick McGraa:

 

Ciaran O’Loughlin, Ben Dufton-Kelly, Ethan Gouldbourne, Marcus James, Thomas Mitchell ©️, Haydn Cooper, Kieran Garner-Knapper, Leo Riley (Jordan Deer 65’), Harvey Sample (Jack Kelly 63’), Ben Holmes (Joe Heath ‘71), Michael Burkey. 

 

Unused sub: Kyle Scarisbrick.

 

Cammell Laird, managed by Stuart Kier: 

 

Nathan Davidson, Ben Kerr, Jack Lloyd, Jake Hulley ©️, Daniel Stephens, Gabriel Kubwalo, Ryan Smith, Ellis Bolton, Kieran Hamm, Joseph Downey, Jay Harvey. 

 

Subs: Cameron McGregor, Kieron Frost, Max Herbert, Jack Wood, Lee Carr. 

 

REFEREE: David Cooper

 

ASSISTANT REFEREES: James Henderson, James Ashcroft

 

MATCH REPORT: Ethan Hoijord