Droylsden F.C.-The bloods on the net!

VAUXHALL MOTORS 2 - 3 DROYLSDEN

Nationwide North, Tuesday 26th December 2006

Report by Gary Owen

Steve Daly snatched a crucial winner in added time for the Bloods to manitain their position at the helm of the Nationwide North following this entertaining encounter on the Wirral.

Vauxhall shaded matters in the first half, with Paul Phillips the busier of the two keepers, and it was no great surprise when they took the lead on 26 minutes, although Phillips will be disappointed after pulling- off a great double save leading up to the goal. His second stop to deny John Lawless with an outstretched leg amazed all as a goal appeared to be a certainity. However, Lawless collected the loose ball and crossed back accross the face of goal, where the ball struck the unfortunate Craig Robinson and went into his own goal.

This was not all before Gareth Morris had home keeper Sean Lake at full stretch, and Terry Fearns saw his effort palmed on to the post by Lake.

Phillips also cleared well from Thomas Rooney, before Fearns rounded Lake at the other end, only to be tripped by the keeper's arm, and referee Mr. Simpson cautioned the home custodian prior to Fearns despatching the spot kick with aplomb.

Droylsden then survived two claims for penalties against them, with Jimmy Williams appearing to block the ball with an arm and Morris may have tripped an opponent, but both appeals were waved away.

Just two minutes after the re-start, Vauxhall took the lead when a deflected shot looped high into the air. It seemed as though Phillips thought the ball would clear the bar, but Lawless took no chances and hit home from point blank range as the ball came back to earth.

Droylsden hit back and struck the Motormen's bar, and from the resultant corner Daly somehow managed to hook over from just four yards out.

The turning point of the game arrived on 52 minutes, when Lake went to clear his lines out of his box but fluffed his kick. Banim pounced and as he went around the bemused keeper he was tripped to earn Lake his second yellow. Vauxhall sacrificed Rooney for substitute keeper Tim Dittmer, who was beaten by a Morris free kick on 62 minutes, but he was saved by his right hand post.

Dave Pace then exchanged Morris for Jamie Tandy in an attempt to stretch the ten men, and it worked well as the Bloods enjoyed long spells of possession and created numerous chances.

Banim missed his kick from 6 yards out, but then Jimmy Williams' shot took a wicked deflection off Lawless to leave Dittmer flat-footed and the Bloods level at 2-2 on 74 minutes.

Droylsen were clearly not satisfied with a point, though, and struck the winner when Daly nodded home from close range two minutes into the added five to spark huge celebrations behing the goal between players and spectators alike.

VAUXHALL M: Lake, Moogan, Dames, McMahon, McNulty, Field, Garrity, Furlong, Rooney, Whittaker, Lawless.

SUBS: Addo (for Whittaker, 75), Griffiths (not used), Martindale (not used), O'Donnell (for Furlong, 35), Dittmer (for Rooney, 52).

DROYLSDEN: Phillips 7, Halford 6, Warner 6, Robinson 8, RUFFER 8, Morris 6, Jagielka 7, Kelly 7, Fearns 7, Daly 6, Banim 8.

SUBS: Lynch (not used), Tandy 8 (for Morris, 63), Howard (not used), Williams 8 (for Halford, 14), Burke (not used).

ATTENDANCE: 206

REFEREE: Mr. J. Simpson (Lancaster, Lancashire)