Droylsden 1 Vauxhall Motors 2

MOTORS’ steady climb up the Blue Square North table is hitting top gear – and not even cup battlers Droylsden could stand in their way on Boxing Day.

Carl Macauley’s in-form team registered their sixth victory in seven matches to mark the start of a miserable few days for the Bloods, who were expelled from the FA Cup on Monday for fielding an ineligible player in their 2-1 win over Chesterfield.

Vauxhall boss Macauley said: “We are looking confident and winning is a good habit to get into.

“We don’t want to talk about top 10 and things yet. One of our games in hand is against Telford who are flying, but we are really pleased.”

Motors took a 28th-minute lead at the Butchers Arms.

Skipper Mattie Burke lobbed the ball forward into the danger area towards the hardworking Saul Otobo, whose presence caused hesitancy in the Droylsden defence. The Vauxhall forward got his just rewards when the ball fell kindly at his feet and he finished from close range.

The lead was short lived, however, as the Bloods equalised on 32 minutes through Alex Brown. But after the break, Motors took control and started to grow in confidence.

In the 57th minute James Holden delivered a great cross from a corner and it was met by an unstoppable bullet header from defender Alan Griffiths to make it 2-1.

Vauxhall: Coates, Noone, Dames, Marsh-Evans, Griffiths, Holmes, Holden, Burke (Egerton 85), Noon, Field, Otobo (McFadden 89). Subs: Wright, Ritchie.

Attendance: 305.

Motors had been due to host Droylsden in the return league fixture yesterday, but the Bloods’ ongoing FA Cup saga caused the game to be postponed.

Vauxhall go to Redditch tomorrow (3pm).