MOTORS gave Leigh renewed hope of survival at Hilton Park on Saturday as they crashed to defeat.

The loss drew the bottom club closer to the Motormen, who lost 3-1 in windswept conditions.

Vauxhall, who had an early penalty appeal turned down, found Leigh’s former Motors keeper Tim Dittmer in frustratingly good form.

At the other end, the home side took the lead on 37 minutes when Mark Smyth’s corner blew straight into the net. After a quiet start to the second half, Motors were rocked on 58 minutes when Rob Talbot’s cross was mis-hit by Gavin Salmon and trickled over the line.

Seven minutes later Motors substitute Keith Smith was brought down inside the area and up stepped Tom Field to convert the penalty for Andy Mutch’s men.

But any hopes of a comeback were dashed when they failed to clear their lines and Smyth shot high into the roof of the net from an acute angle to make it 3-1.

Vauxhall: Rigby, Hitchen (Smith 48), Dames, Field, Robinson, Holmes, Heler, Griffiths, Reed, Williams (Rapley 81), Taylor. Subs: Egerton, Roberts, Murphy.

Attendance: 121.