THE Motormen secured their fourth successive win on Saturday by overwhelming a strong Gateshead outfit that had only lost one of their previous 13 matches.
Vauxhall were the sharper side from the start and should have taken an early lead when Terry Fearns struck the post after being played through by Peter Cumiskey.
They did break the deadlock on 19 minutes as Carl Nesbitt clipped a ball into Cumiskey, who found space in the box.
Cumiskey dribbled past two defenders and keeper Adrian Swan before placing the ball into the empty net.
There was more misery for the visitors on 33 minutes when Swan hauled down Fearns as the Vauxhall striker was through on goal and the keeper was shown the red card.
With their regular custodian dismissed for the professional foul, Gateshead defender Martin Reed had to don the gloves and number one jersey for the resultant spot kick.
His first act was to pick the ball out of the back of the net as Cumiskey despatched a low shot into the bottom right hand corner, sending Reed the wrong way.
Any hopes of a Gateshead comeback were then well and truly crushed as the Motormen bagged two second half goals in as many minutes.
Fearns teed-up Nicky Young on 52 minutes and although his initial shot was blocked by Reed, he blasted home the rebound that fell to his feet.
Cumiskey then completed his hat-trick in spectacular style, cutting inside from the wing and dummying Richie Watson before curling the ball into the top left hand corner of the goal.
A Gateshead consolation on 69 minutes as Rob Painter headed past Steve Hilton from Gareth McAlindon's left wing cross was too little too late as Vauxhall cruised to victory.
Manager Alvin McDonald said: 'Peter Cumiskey's third goal today would have graced any ground and I don't think any goalkeeper would have saved it.'
Vauxhall: Hilton, Rigby, Thompson, Brazier, Haddrell, Lynch (Cullen 32), Nesbitt, Lawton, Cumiskey (McDermott 59), Young, Fearns (Stanhope 69).
Attendance 202
