A LATE and fortuitous strike from Karl O'Donnell salvaged a point for the Motormen in a rearranged match at Ewen Fields on Monday.
Despite playing some excellent football in the second half, Vauxhall were staring at defeat until O'Donnell's cross from the right drifted over Hyde keeper Craig Dootson into the back of the net in the 90th minute.
It was the least Carl Macauley's side-deserved as once again they found themselves up against a side who were physically stronger and played the long ball against Motors' more flowing football.
Macauley said: 'We deserved a point. We didn't play well in the first half but the boys showed a lot of character in the second.
'Karl O'Donnell has got his head down and worked hard and he has returned with a bit of luck to grab two important late goals for us in the last two games.'
Motors have also been lifted by winger Stuart Whittaker's unexpected early return from injury.
'We had him looked at in Liverpool and he was told that he had to go through the pain barrier,' said Macauley. 'He has done that and in a week he has gone from a month out to playing two games in three days.
'We have a young squad and he brings much-needed experience to the side.'
O'Donnell twice went close in the early stages on Monday before Hyde struck a crucial blow on 22 minutes, when a poor error of judgement in the Vauxhall defence allowed Dale Johnson to run completely free through the inside right channel. He drew Sean Lake off his line before squaring to the unmarked Paul Gedman for a simple tap in.
Had it not been for Lake, Gedman may well have doubled the lead on the stroke of half time.
In the second half it was virtually all one-way traffic as Motors gradually increased the pressure on United's defence, but they didn't get the break they deserved until O'Don-nell levelled the scores.
Vauxhall: Lake, Moogan (Rooney 46), Dames, Griffiths, McNulty, Field (Furlong 37), Garrity, Lawless, O'Donnell, Whittaker, Martindale (Wright 61). Subs: Macauley, Long-rigg.
Attendance: 415
