'HOW MANY black cats have we run over?' prompted a voice of one of the Vauxhall staff on leaving Harrogate's ground on Saturday.

'It must be loads,' came the rather disgruntled answer. Just when will the Motormen's league frustrations come to an end, so Owen Brown can have a proper night's sleep?

It was yet another hard-luck story at third-placed Harrogate on Saturday. But in fairness, it didn't begin that way. The confident home side were quickly into their stride, forcing Motors on the back foot.

Glenn Naylor had already seen one effort cannon off the woodwork before he became 'Johnny-on-the-spot'.

The hosts took the lead on 20 minutes when Colin Hunter's cross was headed against the post by Robert Pell and there was Naylor to sweep home the rebound.

At the other end, defender Craig Robinson acrobatically volleyed wide of the target before Motors debutant keeper Tim Dittmer produced two stunning saves in quick succession to deny James Turley and Pell, but he was left helpless moments later as Naylor replicated his first goal when another Peel effort came back to him off an upright.

Vauxhall's response was immediate. Peter Cumiskey spotted that home keeper Ashley Connor was well off his line and curled a shot beyond his reach from the edge of the area.

Seconds later, Terry Fearns wriggled through the heart of Harrogate's defence and only had the keeper to beat, but Connor just managed to get a toe to the ball to thwart the danger of an equaliser.

On the resumption, it was all the Motormen. Robbie Lawton drove over the bar and from one of his crosses, Cumiskey turned his marker and shot, only to be denied by the keeper's legs.

Cumiskey also had another effort go narrowly wide, before Kevin Lynch headed over the bar from a corner, while a Cumiskey flick was diverted for another flag kick.

But then with just five minutes remaining, and long after the ball boys had disappeared, Harrogate reminded everyone they were still around as Mick McNaughton headed against the bar.

And four minutes later, they had the audacity to steal a controversial third goal. Marc Smith was clearly in an offside position, but he was allowed to become involved directly in the build up which ended with Naylor completing his hat-trick after Dittmer had raced out to try and close down the danger.

That only seemed to make the Motormen even more determined. Fearns headed home a simple second Vauxhall goal two minutes into added time from Cumiskey's cross, which left two more injury time minutes to be played.

And right at the death, Lawton galloped down the right, crossed from the by-line at speed into the area, and there were three white shirts waiting to pounce - a case of too many cooks and between them, they wasted the chance to grab a dramatic equaliser as the ball sailed over the bar.

It was all rather too frustrating for manager Owen Brown to take.

"This wasn't a case of us throwing it away, it just slipped away," he said. "I've got to say, I was really proud of the lads. I thought that under extreme provocation at times and not much support other than from our faithful fans, that we played really, really well.

"We controlled the game against supposedly one of the top sides. Refereeing decisions have cost us not just one point, but all three. We were the only side playing any kind of football second half. We were in control and then an offside goal is allowed to stand, we go down and score another, and they should have had a lad sent off."

He added: "The referee hasn't dealt with that, he didn't deal with their manager coming on the pitch and causing a fracas.

"All these things haven't helped but I do think if the lads continue to show the same football, spirit and commitment that they did in the second half, I'm convinced we can go on a good run and steadily climb up the league."

Referring to his two midweek signings, keeper Tim Dittmer who used to be on Liverpool's books and midfielder Steve Porter signed from Droylsden, who both played the full 90 minutes, the Rivacre Park boss commented: "I thought they were both a plus. I thought Tim in goal did well. As a keeper you've got to get to know people around you. He got into the game, his decision making was good, he came and kicked and cleared things for us. And I thought little Stevie Porter was exactly the same. He was a little hesitant in the first 20 minutes or so, but as he grew into the match, and got to know the lads game, I thought he did well."

The defeat still leaves Vauxhall a good nine points off the pace for a spot in the new Conference North next season, nothing a good run of victories wouldn't put right - if only they could enjoy a touch of luck to turn their fortunes around.

VAUXHALL: Dittmer, Macauley, McDermott, Robinson, Griffiths (McCann 69), Lynch, Nes-bitt, Lawton, Fearns, Porter, Cumiskey. Subs: Rey, Dawes.

The Motormen can now turn their attentions away from their fight for league points and begin plotting the downfall of Uni-Bond Premier Division leaders, Hucknall in the League Cup quarter-finals at Rivacre Park on Saturday (3pm), which will be played to a finish.

Owen Brown's boys have already accounted for Rossendale United and Altrincham to reach the last eight and this represents their last chance of silverware this season.

It promises to be another tight affair, for which Carl Spellman will be available once more following his two-match suspension, and is likely to resume in the right back berth at the expense of cup-tied Carl Macauley. New signing Steve Porter is also cup-tied from his time with Droylsden.