Barnton 0 v 5 Vauxhall Motors
Cheshire Senior Cup 1st Round
Ever since manager Mick McGraa arrived at the Syncreon Arena, he has been looking for an out-and-out striker who can score goals for fun – well he may well have found him now on this bitterly cold evening at Barnton.
Debutant Ryan Cox proved to be a special predator as the former Bootle striker struck four goals in this comfortable Cheshire Senior Cup tie, all from well inside the area, to underline his potential in front of goal – and they all came from Motors left flank!
It took the Motormen just nine minutes to open their account when the busy Joe Brandon fired in a fierce cross from the left which was only partial cleared but rebounded back off a defender invitingly for Cox to turn home from eight yards out.
Motors doubled that advantage on 20 minutes, as they continued to dominate the tie. This time Greg Drummond was the provider from the left, which Cox turned home from close in. It became 3-0 after just 29 minutes, when Joe Heath struck a fantastic 25-yard shot which the home keeper had no chance of saving.
The visitors made it 4-0 on 56 minutes when Brandon raced to the bye line before pulling a pass across the goal for Cox to finish from six yards. And Brandon was again the provider for the final goal on 69 minutes, crossing from deep into the area where Cox headed home for his fourth of the night from eight yards.
This was the signal for Brandon to be replaced by Youth player Kieran Fair, who came on for the final 20 minutes for his senior Motors debut.
Vauxhall: Crump, Scarisbrick, Drummond, Gardner, Carlin, Heath, Brandon (Fair 70), Willingham, Cox, Noon (Davey 60), Burkey (Hamm 46). Subs not used: Cooper & Lawrence.