Vauxhall Motors 0 Gainsborough Trinity 3

CAPITULATION in a crazy 11-minute spell proved to be Motors’ undoing on Saturday as their relegation plight worsened.

After an impressive 1-0 win over Boston last Tuesday, Vauxhall boss Macauley was looking for his side to string some results together.

Instead, he saw Trinity complete their first league double over the Motormen.

Motors had their fair share of chances, but failed to capitalise.

The visitors’ purple patch kicked off in the 34th minute when Lewis McMahon played the ball out to Ryan Mallon, whose shot beat home keeper Andrew Murphy on his near post.

Three minutes later, Chris Hall doubled the Blues’ lead with a drilled effort from just outside the area, having cut back on to his right foot following a cross-field run.

Then, after the referee missed a clear foul on Alan Griffiths by Trinity’s James Dudgeon at a corner, Mallon hooked home a third before the break.

Ged Brannan came on at half-time for John Egerton and began pulling the strings in midfield, until Motors’ disciplinary problems resurfaced.

Although Russell Hitchin’s tackle probably warranted only a booking, he was shown a straight red to leave the hosts a man down just a week after they had two sent off at Alfreton.

Hitchin’s red card galvanised Motors and their performance improved. If Adam Sollitt in the Gainsborough goal hadn’t pulled off two memorable saves, the final score would have been quite different.

Motors now need to pick themselves up for a crucial Easter double-header, which they face without the suspended Tom Field and Paul Taylor.

Tomorrow, they travel north to face Workington before returning to Rivacre Park on Easter Monday for the visit of promotion-chasing Harrogate Town (both 3pm).