THE Motormen slumped to their first home league defeat of this season against Accrington on Saturday as neat approach play was undone by some wayward delivery.

Manager Alvin McDonald said: 'We are not learning as a team and at the end I told the players if they thought the management had got it wrong, then they should tell us, but the dressing room lay silent. I have been loyal to the players as they have brought us a long way in a short time.

'But we need to see an improvement and I've given them until Christmas to show me what they can do. Up to now they are either not listening or are incapable of doing what I am asking. This is reality time and if they don't improve, I need to find players that will.'

Vauxhall should have taken the lead midway through the first half when Nicky Young played a delightful ball through the Accrington defence for Terry Fearns to race clear.

But Fearns' control let him down and Jamie Speare in the Stanley goal gratefully smothered the danger.

The visitors grabbed the lead on 28 minutes as Lutel James hooked the ball back into the six-yard box.

Phil Brazier's intended headed clearance struck Paul Mullin at very close quarters and flew into the net beyond the helpless Matty Hogg in goal.

Seconds after the restart, Accrington defender Jonathan Smith appeared to elbow Fearns across the face and a number of yellow cards followed shortly after.

The second half began just as the first had done, good approach play but little to trouble the Stanley keeper.

The Motormen were left with a mountain to climb on 59 minutes when Mullin headed a fine goal from James' cross at the near post.

Vauxhall clawed their way back into the game 10 minutes from time when substitute Jon Stanhope converted Robbie Lawton's right wing cross from close range.

In the closing moments of normal time, Stanhope almost gained an unlikely equaliser but his goalbound effort was cleared off the line by defender Barry Hart.

Vauxhall: Hogg, Rigby, McDermott, Brazier, Haddrell (Cullen 81), Lynch, Nesbitt, Lawton, Cumiskey, Young (Stanhope 71), Fearns (Wright 71).