FORMER Rivacre Park favourite Carl Nesbitt made a winning return to the Vauxhall Motors line-up last Friday to help Carl Macauley's men pocket three priceless points in their battle against the drop.

The 36-year-old midfielder was signed by Motors from Marine at the end of last week and went straight into the starting XI at Hilton Park.

His virtuoso display in the heart of midfield evoked memories of Nesbitt's first spell with the club which saw him notch up more than 500 appearances before he left in 2005.

Nesbitt, who used to work at the Vauxhall plant in Ellesmere Port but is now at Jaguar in Halewood, played for the Motormen for 10 years and will be forever remembered for scoring from the spot to help them beat QPR in the FA Cup in 2002.

At Hilton Park last Friday, Nesbitt was paired with another new arrival, Liverpool College student Kevin Smith, in midfield and the duo steered Vauxhall to a comfortable success.

Motors boss Macauley said: 'His impact was immediate. Carl and young Kevin Smith in the middle of the park slotted in great and looked like they had always been there.

'Kevin is handy and Carl brings a lot of experience. If they keep playing like they did against Leigh then in two games time when Tom Field and Mike Garrity return from suspension I am going to have a real headache.'

Lee Furlong was also on top form against the Railwaymen. The striker has been reborn since a two-game suspension earlier this month, scoring four times in his last three games.

He set the tone on Friday with a powerful header from Stuart Whit-taker's corner after just six minutes - and the Motormen never looked back.

After squandering a few chances, Motors came out for the second half fired up and a Brian Moogan free kick close to the left corner flag on 52 minutes fell to Furlong, who was on hand to head beyond the despairing dive of Peter Crookes in the Leigh goal to make it 2-0.

Then Thomas Rooney got in on the act, cutting in from the left and lashing a fierce right-foot shot beyond Crookes in the 63rd minute.

Macauley added: 'It was a professional performance and the type of show I have been looking for from this team for a long time.

'The team that turned up on Friday looked like it would stay clear of relegation, no problem.'

Vauxhall: Lake, Moogan, Dames, Griffiths, McNulty, Nesbitt, Smith, Woodyatt, Rooney, Furlong, Whittaker.

Subs: O'Hare, Wright, Spellman, Macauley, Jones.

Attendance: 201.