Vauxhall see off 1874 Northwich in relegation scrap

Merseysiders Vauxhall Motors saw off the challenge of 1874 Northwich in a relegation “six-pointer” to extend the gap between the two sides.

It’s Vauxhall’s first win in eight games, in the Northern Premier League Division one. Northwich remain win less since September.

The home side started stronger. Jay Harvey had three golden opportunities to fire Motors into the lead, but 1874 goalkeeper Matthew Wonnacott kept the fellow strugglers in the game.

Against the run of play, the visitors who took the lead after 18 minutes. Joel Jones calmly slotting it under the onrushing Alex Brown.

The Motormen kept pressing however, and came agonisingly close to equalising 20 minutes later, but Mitchell Duggan’s header hit the post.

It was only a matter of time before the equaliser came on 40 minutes, Deer’s inch-perfect through ball found Connor Rankin through on goal, and a clever lob over Wonnacott was a fine finish.

Vauxhall had a storming start to the second half, taking the lead within two minutes through Harvey.

They should have made it three but Harvey fired straight at the keeper Wonnacott.

Northwich had few chances, but none better than Oliver McFadyen’s, as he latched onto Joshua Nicholson’s cross, only to fire over the bar from just four yards.

It proved costly, as Vauxhall sealed victory, through Rankin’s second goal in the 73rd minute.

Vauxhall closed the game out from there, opening a 8 point gap from the relegation zone, Northwich 1874, remain firmly rooted at the bottom.