STARTING the game just three points off the top of the Nationwide Conference North, this was a game the Motormen thought they were capable of winning.
But lively Alfreton's lowly position does not reflect how good this team can be on their day and they inflicted the first defeat on Carl Macauley's side in nine matches to put a dent in their play-off challenge.
In the first 30 minutes both sides created an abundance of chances and all three goals were netted within a 10-minute spell before the clear-cut opportunities dried up.
John Lawless went close early on and Lee Furlong and Thomas Rooney were denied in quick succession from close range by Alfreton keeper Dale Roberts.
Soon after Brian Moogan's fiercely struck free kick from distance could only be parried by Roberts and Stuart Whittaker pounced to steer home the loose ball from close in for his first goal for the club.
Almost immediately Alfreton equalised when Andy Rawle muscled his way past a defender to finish well.
The visitors' battling play paid dividends again eight minutes later when Andy Tiday fired them in front after the Motormen lost possession in their own half.
Mike Garrity opened up the Alfreton defence again but wasted his chance as the seemed to be caught in two minds.
The pattern continued into the second half, as both sides gave their all but created nothing.
In the 69th minute Whittaker wasted an opening by firing into the side netting and the best move of the half saw Motors substitute Paul Addo head straight into the grateful arms of Dale Roberts from Moogan's right wing cross.
Carl Macauley will be hoping his Motormen get back to winning ways on Saturday when they visit Birmingham club Moor Green in the Nationwide Conference North before playing host to Farsley Celtic next Tuesday evening (7.45pm) in a rearranged league fixture.
Vauxhall: Lake, Moogan, Dames, McMahon, McNulty, Field (Addo 60), Garrity (Griffiths 54), Furlong, Rooney, Whittaker, Lawless.
Subs: Longrigg, Martindale, O'Donnell.
Attendance: 197
Mixed luck for starlets
MOTORS Under-17s followed up their crushing victory over Stalybridge in the previous round of the Cheshire Youth Cup with another stunning success, this time away at Middlewich on Sunday afternoon.
Leading 3-0 at the break, the young Motormen went on to record another 9-0 triumph to ease themselves into the next round.
But the club's U13s were not so fortunate, as they went down 3-0 away to a strong Broadheath Central side in Partington.
