January 2024 - City of Liverpool Football Club

City of Liverpool FC continued their good form with a fourth league win on the bounce, as Paul McNally’s side demolished Vauxhall Motors on New Years Day.

Macca kept faith with the starting XI which performed so well in Boxing Day’s derby win over Bootle, whilst top scorer Josh Quarless returned from suspension to replace Callum Lees on the bench.

The Purps started well against their former landlords, dominating possession in the early minutes and progressing the ball at a pace which Motors struggled to keep pace with.

After a couple of promising runs down the left narrowly went by without reward, a nice move saw Xenon Bahula release Jack Hont into acres of space down the left.

Hont’s cross wasn’t dealt with by former City of Liverpool defender Adam Hughes and Callum Scorah arrived late in the box to side-foot home through a crowd and beyond the dive of goalkeeper Alexander Hughes with barely four minutes on the clock.

The Purps continued to put their foot on the gas and saw another two chances go by before there was even ten minutes of play.

Danny Mitchley saw a goalbound effort stopped by a vital block from Thomas Mitchell after good work by Bahula again, before the skipper also flashed another effort narrowly past the post.

It wouldn’t be long before the hosts increased their lead, however.

Schorah turned from goalscorer to creator after 20 minutes, but in truth the Purps owed a huge debt of gratitude to a goalkeeping mistake which gifted them the chance to extend their lead.

A clipped free kick from Schorah saw Motors custodian Hughes instruct his defence to leave the ball, which they duly did, only for Adam Rooney to be lurking at the back of a crowd to gratefully accept the gift that had been presented to him.

Rooney took advantage of the keeper’s indecision as he went back on his line and slipped, slotting home like a seasoned forward to make it two-nil.

It looked as though this could soon be a rout as the chances continued to rain down on Vesty Road.

First Mitchley headed another difficult chance wide, before the marauding Michael Simpson stung the fingers of Hughes who did well to hold his long-range effort.

A lovely link up between Allen and Mitchley then saw the ball worked to Elliot Morris, but the lively winger headed narrowly wide.

With 39 minutes on the clock the Purps were out of sight having carved the visitors open down the left again.

Skipper Danny Mitchley came out on top in a battle with Adam Hughes and released the excellent Elliot Morris away down the left, whose ball across the face of goal was spilled into the bath of Schorah.

Callum made no mistake, unwrapping another gift and side-footing home from close range.

HALF TIME: CITY OF LIVERPOOL 3-0 VAUXHALL MOTORS

The away side looked to stem the tide of purple pressure at the start of the second period, and they did well to frustrate a home side looking to end an excellent festive period with a swagger.

The Purps had to work much harder for the ball and didn’t really make any clear advances on the Motors goal, save for Elliot Morris’ long range effort which flew harmlessly over the bar after more eye-catching work from the recent recruit.

Schorah assured himself a new matchball with 70 minutes on the clock, capping off another brilliant individual display in a season littered with an array of his fantastic performances.

Mike Grogan stepped in to retrieve possession and fed Max Allen who dissected the Motors midfield to find the advancing Schorah who was afforded far, far too much time for a player of his quality.

Schorah stride towards the edge of the box before firing a low finish across Hughes to send his adoring home faithful into raptures.

The Purps rounded off the scoring by making it a double-salvo in less than two minutes as Schorah nipped in rob possession from Motors skipper Thomas Mitchell who duly brought him down.

The referee played an excellent advantage which allowed Elliot Morris skin the defence before finishing beautifully across Alexander Hughes and claim a goal which his performance richly deserved.

There was still time for Morris to go close again after Hughes came wandering out of goal to make a less than convincing clearance, but the #10’s instinctive effort was narrowly off target.

The referee blew time on an excellent festive period which saw Paul McNally’s in-form side claim a brilliant four wins from four, against four tough opponents in Runcorn Linnets, Clitheroe, Bootle and Vauxhall Motors respectively.

FULL TIME: CITY OF LIVERPOOL 5-0 VAUXHALL MOTORS

City of Liverpool: Calvin Hare, Michael Simpson, Jack Hont, Adam Rooney, Mike Grogan, Si Wills (Kenny Strickland 60’), Callum Schorah, Max Allen, Danny Mitchley (Connor Rankin 65’), Xenon Bahula (Josh Quarless 72’)

Subs not used: Baba Conteh, Jawad Jebrin.

MAN OF THE MATCH:

The easiest award of the season goes to Callum Schorah for scoring three goals and claiming two assists. Another brilliant performance from a player who just keeps finding new levels.

MANAGER’S INTERVIEW:

Paul McNally admitted he’s is running out of superlatives for Callum Schorah and praised his side for rounding off a perfect festive period with four wins from four games.