Having never won at Rivacre Park, the Lions went on a first-half stroll to make sure their last visit to the Wirral for a while would be a memorable one as they put West Cheshire League-bound Vauxhall Motors to the sword with an impressive display of top-class finishing.

The rout began after just eleven minutes, when a Guiseley corner was cleared to Andy Holdsworth. He slipped the ball inside to Danny Ellis and, showing all the composure of a striker, the defender sidestepped his marker and fired a shot across Zac Jones into the far corner for the opener.

Three minutes later, Gavin Rothery’s jinking run paved the way for Wayne Brooksby to try his luck and, when his shot was blocked, Adam Boyes was on hand to apply the finishing touch.

Alex Johnson then latched on to a ball played through the middle and escaped his defender to shoot wide of Jones into the corner.

Rothery’s cross into the six-yard box was just too long for Boyes and the latter’s cross minutes later narrowly evaded Johnson.

Not that that pressure on the home side was about to let up; the Lions went four goals ahead when a sweeping move saw Rhys Meynell’s cross converted by Boyes from close in.

Just after the half-hour, Motors’ first attempt on goal summed up their afternoon as the shot sailed yards wide of the target and over the boundary fence.

Michael Potts replaced Jake Lawlor on 35 minutes and two minutes later the combative midfielder was tripped from behind as he shaped to shoot from five yards out. Rothery stepped up to convert the resulting spot kick.

As the half drew to a close, Brooksby sailed past two defenders only to see Jones tip his effort over the bar. The keeper, who had been left exposed by his defenders  for much of the first half, also did well to prevent Boyes grabbing his hat-trick on the whistle.

Danny Forrest replaced Rothery on the restart while Vauxhall brought on Paulo Mendes for the hapless Louis Barnes and introduced Stephen Wainwright up front. However, although the frenetic pace shown by the Lions in the first period dropped somewhat,  Brooksby, Boyes and Johnson all went close to increasing the visitors’ lead.

The home side had perhaps the best opening of the second half late on when Steve Tames forced Steven Drench into his first real save of the game only for Wainwright to blaze yards wide with the goal at his mercy.

Mark Bower’s thoughts on today’s victory

Andy Holdsworth reflects on the win

Team:

1-Drench

2-Holdsworth (C)

3- Meynell

4-Hall

5-Ellis 11

6-Lawlor (Potts, 35)

7-Brooksby

8-Boshell

9-Boyes 14, 28

10- Johnson (A) 25   (Holsgrove, 67)

11-Rothery 37 pen  (Forrest, 46)

12- Johnson (O)

14-Forrest

15-Potts

16-Holsgrove

18-Dickinson