Stalybridge Celtic 2, Vauxhall 1

Sep 23 2004 By Christopher Beesley, Ellesmere Port Pioneer

THE Motormen remain rooted to the foot of the table after cruelly losing out to a stoppage time goal in Saturday's basement clash at Bower Fold.

Manager Owen Brown said: 'In the first half we played them off the park and if we'd have taken our chances we could have been 3-0 up. Karl O'Don-nell was unlucky not to score and he's a player who has a lot to come but we need those goals now. We're the best box-to-box team in the division but we're being punished severely for individual mistakes.'

While both sides were obviously desperate for points, Vauxhall took advantage of the sloped pitch in the first half to boss proceedings and even in the second period, Tim Dittmer did not have a proper save to make until the 90th minute.

The body language of the respective bosses was also significant as Brown prowled the touchline constantly barking out positive instructions to his play-ers while opposite number David Miller sat motionless in the dugout, seeming resigned to his fate, moving only to light a cigarette - when his side won there was no smile on his face.

Vauxhall took the lead on 24 minutes following a corner kick when Tony Whealing had cleared a Darren Wright effort off the line.

The resultant set piece came back to taker Colin Flood and his inswinging cross from the right was headed in by James Glendenning.

Maintaining the momentum, James Olsen forced Craig Dootson to palm a 25-yard stinger over the bar while Wright chipped the ball over the keep-er's head at full stretch only for his shot to roll wide of the post.

The Motormen were made to pay for their missed chances as Celtic equalised out of the blue on 57 minutes when Tim Dittmer failed to control a loose ball and Ian Monk slotted into an empty net.

A minute from full time, Vaux-hall lost dominant centre back Mike Tomlinson after he was hit straight in the face by the ball and Dittmer was tested for the first time.

Just 30 seconds later came the killer blow which brought the visiting players literally to their knees as Ben Smith rounded Dittmer to send the hosts into delirium.

Vauxhall: Dittmer, Mike Duffy (Spellman 62), Flood, Glendenning, Tomlinson (Mark Duffy 89), Brazier, Griffiths (Nesbitt 76), Lawton, Wright, Olsen, O'Donnell. Attendance 363.