VAUXHALL Motors remain rooted in the Blue Square North drop spots after they lost 2-1 at home to promotion-pushing Droylsden on Saturday.

Tony Gray scored twice in the first half to secure all three points for the second-placed visitors, with the prolific striker’s first goal coming after just two minutes when he headed home from six yards out.

Second-from-bottom Motors thought they had a way back into the contest on the 20-minute mark when Josh Hine burst clear and was hauled down by Steve Halford. The Droylsden captain was only shown a yellow card, however.

And salt was rubbed into the home side’s wounds five minutes later when Gray fired in a 20-yard free kick.

But, after Paul Phillips denied Karl Noon on the stroke of half-time, Vauxhall reduced the deficit six minutes after the restart as midfielder Josh Wilson rose highest to head in Brian Moogan’s corner.

Motors were now going all out for an equaliser and they came close to getting one 10 minutes from time when Droylsden goalkeeper Phillips got the better of Hine in a one-on-one.

Vauxhall, who have released midfielder James Holden, travel to mid-table AFC Telford United on Saturday (3pm).