Vauxhall Motors 1 Stalybridge Celtic 0

SURVIVAL is firmly in Vauxhall’s hands after captain Josh Wilson fired them to a second win in four days on Monday.

Wilson’s second-half strike saw off the challenge of play-off contenders Stalybridge and put the Motormen two points clear of the Blue Square North drop zone.

Carl Macauley’s side, who climbed out of the bottom three on Saturday with a 3-2 success at Solihull Moors, have now taken an incredible 19 points from the last 24 on offer.

Monday’s match- winner Wilson, the league’s player of the month for March and one of the driving forces behind Motors’ revival, knows survival is within his team’s grasp.

He said:“We’d like to take as many points as we can.

“We have still got to play Bishop’s Stortford, who are five points ahead of us. It is still in our hands.”

Wilson also saluted boss Macauley, who has had a positive impact at Rivacre Park since returning as manager in November.

“Carl coming back has made a massive difference,” added the Motors’ skipper. “He has bags of experience and potential and everyone across non-league knows he is one of the best managers around.

“He has helped give the team confidence.”

At Rivacre Park on Monday, Stalybridge had the better chances in the first half, with top goalscorer Phil Marsh twice going close.

On 24 minutes Marsh found space 18 yards out but failed to trouble Scott Tynan as he fired over the crossbar. Two minutes later, Tynan stood up strongly against Marsh, pushing the ball out for a corner.

Shortly after, David Mannix fired a free kick straight at visiting keeper Jan Budtz and Craig Mahon also went close, hitting the side-netting after a run down the left wing.

In the second half, Budtz saved from Kevin Holsgrove and man-of-the-match Mattie Burke before Wilson broke the deadlock on 55 minutes.

A deep corner by Mannix was headed down by Tom Hannigan and Wilson was left unmarked to slot the ball past Budtz from close range.

Motors then proceeded to protect their lead by keeping possession and defending deep, with Paul Jones and Hannigan looking particularly impressive.

Vauxhall: Tynan, Fearnehough, Dames, Hannigan, Jones, Burke, Mahon, Mannix, Parkinson, Wilson, Holsgrove. Subs: Egerton, Wynn, Ogden, Martindale, Spotswood.

Attendance: 254.

Motors are away to mid-table Bishop’s Stortford this Saturday (3pm). They round off the campaign with a home test against Corby Town (April 21) and a trip to Droylsden (April 28).

Solihull v Motors report – page 54.