VAUXHALL MOTORS go into their new Nationwide Conference North campaign on a high, having come from behind to beat last season's champions Southport in their final friendly, to record their fifth straight pre-season victory.
The Motormen, regarded as long shot outsiders, have looked very much more like serious contenders over the last couple of weeks, building up to Saturday's difficult away opener at Alfreton, which is quickly followed by their first home game of the new campaign against Barrow on Tuesday, August 16 at 7.45pm. Owen Brown's charges played some superb football to defeat Peter Davenport's Bangor City 2-0 last midweek, and followed that by coming from behind against Southport at the weekend, to inflict a demoralising 2-1 defeat on the Sandgrounders.
Vauxhall have been boosted by the long-awaited return of livewire striker Leighton McGivern in the last week, after a season of full-time football with Rochdale and with left-sided Sam McNutt, formerly of Prescot Cables, also joining the crusade at Rivacre Park from South-port in the last few days, the Motormen look in fine shape going into the new campaign.
On the debit side, long term casualty Mike Tomlinson has suffered a reaction to his increased training programme, which has set him back a good few weeks, but that apart, it really is a case of 'Go Drive' for Owen's men.
