THE Motormen travelled to Nottinghamshire hoping to be the first team this season to dent Alfreton's unbeaten home record.
But their optimism soon evaporated courtesy of two deflected goals from the opposition and an own goal within 30 minutes.
On eight minutes, left-sided Chris Dolby got in behind the Vauxhall defence thanks to a neat reverse pass and saw his shot go in at the near post off a Vauxhall defender.
Five minutes later, right-sided Chris Bettney enjoyed the same freedom and good fortune as his shot beat Matt Higgins in goal with another ricochet off a Motors boot.
And on the half-hour mark it became even worse for the visitors as Craig Robinson headed beyond his own keeper via an upright.
After the resumption, Motors continued to probe with little reward and, on 57 minutes, a flat-footed Vauxhall rearguard were caught by a quickly-taken free-kick which Mike Godber drove home.
Ten minutes later, a simple short pass saw Ian Robinson, with a hint of offside, stride through unchallenged to drive in number five.
Motors continued vainly to find an opening at the other end, prompted by debutant sub Hugh McAuley, a former Liverpool reserve player.
But they must have known it was not their day when keeper Higgins clattered heavily into a post head first and had to be replaced in goal by defender Chris Whelan.
Only Peter Cumiskey found the net as Vauxhall secured a consolation deep into added time.
A disappointed Vauxhall manager Owen Brown said: 'I think we've got to look at ourselves for today's result, particularly myself.
'We asked the team to play in a particular manner and, to be truthful, it just never worked. The lads never seemed to grasp what we were asking them to do, or if they did, we didn't put it into practice.'
'Hopefully, not having a game this next Saturday, we can really drum in some different ways of dealing with the problems we've had.'
Vauxhall: Higgins (Griffiths 85), Ward ((McCann 67), McDermott, Robinson, Whelan, Lynch, Nesbitt, Lawton, Fearns, Robertson (McAuley 62), Cumiskey. Vauxhall are on the lookout for new blood behind the scenes and anyone interested should contact either club secretary Carole Paisey on 0151 625 6936 or Alan Bartlam on 0151 639 3955.
