Wythenshawe 2 v 3 Vauxhall Motors - Motors return to the top of table

The Motormen controlled much of the first spell with a desire to assert themselves as the favourites but there was a struggle to find the decisive ball which would have led to something tangible.

The first major chance however fell in favour of the hosts with a cross that could’ve easily been turned into a goal had it not been for Jack Atkinson knocking the ball away from the path of Jean-Louis Akpa Akpro who would’ve had an open goal at the back post.

The Town began to take a hold of the next phase of play exploiting mistakes and The Motors struggles to be in the right position defensively as their first shot of the game saw a powerful strike bravely blocked by Dom Hoppe.

Connor Rankin was the man to give Vauxhall’s their first shot of the game as he looked to turn a cross from the left by Paddy Kay, but the chance only endangered the side netting.

Minutes later he made up for the missed opportunity when Kevin Ellison gambled on a bouncing ball misread by Aaron Morris. Despite shouts for handball against the hosts, amongst the chaos Rankin slipped through one on one before easily knocking his strike into the bottom left corner.

It wasn’t long after that the Motors added their insurance goal and Toby Jones’ long throw was a huge threat again. The centre half delivered from the right side, and it was flicked toward the back post where Nick Rushton was arriving unmarked and stroked his effort back across goal.

The hosts struggled to find a foothold in the second spell which meant Atkinson’s simple collect from a corner drew a close to the first half.

Within moments of the second half getting underway, Isaac Goodwin brought down the Wythenshawe left winger giving away a soft penalty. Luke Nock stepped up and had no issues as he slotted it away and suddenly it was game on.

Some fantastic quick football between Rankin and Ellison ended up at the feet of Josh Quarless, who, in the centre of the park, delivered an inch perfect ball beating the sliding foot of Isaac Abankwah into the path of Kay, but the young midfielder could only smash into the chest of Gregory Hall.

The Town then overturned the two-goal deficit through an incredibly disappointing corner turned own goal. The cross was low and right on top of Atkinson who got a finger to it to seemingly knock it into safety. Instead, a mix up at the back meant Hoppes clearance bounced off his own striker in the form of Quarless and into an open goal.

The response could’ve been immediate as Rankin had the opportunity to retake the lead but his effort from six yards cannoned off the bar.

As we neared the end of the game, still searching for the go-ahead goal, Rushton poked a superb curling effort matched by an equally superb save at the bottom right corner. From the resulting corner, the cross got stuck at the feet of Jones who was desperate to smash one goalward. He instead released to Rushton on the edge if the box, who this time absolutely hammered it into the top left corner to ensure the lead.

With five minutes to go, a corner for Wythenshawe was again right on the toes of Atkinson but this time the scramble was dealt with better and smashed away.

Every man was behind the ball and soaked up the pressure of a nervy extra two minutes, but the hosts failed to break a determined back line once more before referee Abid Hussein blew his whistle for the final time.

Vauxhall Motors return to action in just three days as they take on Hanley Town at the vanEupen Arena looking to maintain their place at the top of the NPL West Division.