VAUXHALL'S hard-earned 1-1 draw away to former Conference club Southport on Saturday meant that the Motormen had secured their tenth point from five league outings for the first time since September, a month that ended with the departure of former manager Alvin McDonald to Northwich Vics.

It is a record that the new boss Owen Brown and his squad have worked hard to achieve, but far from sitting back and enjoying the moment, it is a fact that only that sort of form over the remaining two months of the season is likely to guarantee a place in next season's now-confirmed Conference North.

"At the start of a new season any decent club would target an average of two points a game to put them in a leading position," commented Brown, "and that's what we are now doing and are confident of maintaining over the rest of our fixtures."

The Motormen now face a crippling fixture list of 14 vital league games over the next eight weeks.

After two hard away fixtures, the Motormen return to Rivacre Park on Saturday in what promises to be another tough game, as high-flying Alfreton Town are the visitors (3pm).

Meanwhile, Brown hopes to complete the signing of a local striker with League of Wales experience ahead of the weekend's game.

Defender Brad Cullen, who badly injured his right eye in last week's victory over Lancaster, is likely to be out of action for several weeks at a crucial time of the season. But on the credit side, long-term casualty Mike Tomlinson was named as an unused substitute at Haig Avenue on Saturday.