IT WAS unlucky 13 for the Motormen at Rossett Park on Bank Holiday Monday as they lost their first derby match since being promoted into the UniBond Premier Division three seasons ago.

Manager Alvin McDonald said: 'We were unbeaten in our previous 12 fixtures against Marine, Burscough and Runcorn, the three games we count as our derby matches, so our excellent record has come to an end. We were hurt in a bad 15-minute spell just before the break and, apart from that, we looked quite good.

'We took the lead and were in command for the first half-an-hour, but then the free-kicks started creeping in and we had to face the pressure of their set-plays.'

Vauxhall started brightly and went ahead on 13 minutes with a Peter Cumiskey penalty after Steve Rimmer had brought down Terry Fearns.

But as the game went on, Roly Howard's side grew stronger and it was no surprise when Paul McNally levelled proceedings on 34 minutes with a powerful strike from Eddie Hussin's right-wing cross.

Hussin then found the net himself in the dying moments of the first half as he got on the end of a Gary Randles cross to beat Andy Ralph.

Vauxhall battled after the break in a bid to restore parity but their good work was undone on 65 minutes when Craig Robinson handled in the area and Steve Whitehall slotted home the resultant spot-kick.

A Carl Nesbitt strike from the edge of the box two minutes later gave the Motormen hope, but neither side was able to add to the scoring despite a couple of frantic goalmouth scrambles at both ends of the pitch.

Vauxhall: Ralph, Ward, McDermott, Tomlinson, Whelan, Robinson, Nesbitt, Lynch (Lally), Fearns, Young (Lawton), Cumiskey.

* The Motormen host Bradford Park Avenue on Saturday (3pm) before visiting Droylsden on Monday (7.45pm).