MONDAY 24th MARCH 2008

VAUXHALL MOTORS 0 v 1 HARROGATE TOWN

BLUE SQUARE NORTH

A second successive 1-0 Easter defeat leaves Carl Macauley’s squad staring relegation from the Blue Square North firmly in the face.  The severely-depleted Motormen were without six first team regulars for this fixture against a Yorkshire side looking to consolidate their play-off position – yet in truth Harrogate were largely unimpressive as promotion material, but still had enough to inflict another blow to the hosts hopes.
                           
In an uninspiring first half of few chances, the Yorkshire side went close on 12 minutes when Darren Dunning heading just over.  Shortly after Motors followed suit when Joe McMahon nodded on to home debutant Tom Hannigan, but his header went wide.   Two superb clearances by Craig Robinson and Alan Griffiths kept the scoreline blank and just before the break, Motors threatened again when Peter Heler drilled a low cross into the area but Dave Roberts shot was blocked.

On the resumption, Harrogate gained the initiative and it took two smart saves from Andrew Murphy to deny Mark Hume twice with decent headers before the defender-cum-striker clinched all three points courtesy of a 66th minute far post header, his effort dropping just inside the near upright with Murphy left stranded.

Motors miserable Easter was compounded by the harsh sending off of Jonathan Egerton three minutes from time. It leaves the Rivacre Park club sitting perilously inside the bottom three, five games remaining though two of their home fixtures are against fellow strugglers Hucknall and Hinckley.
 
Vauxhall: Murphy, Holmes, Williams, Egerton, Griffiths, Robinson, Heler, Brannan, Roberts (Hitchen 65), McMahon, Hannigan.  Sub not used: Macauley, Smith, Rooney.