VAUXHALL Motors fell deeper into relegation trouble on Saturday in the Blue Square North when basement club Leigh RMI inflicted a 3-1 defeat upon Andy Mutch's side at their windswept Hilton Park ground.

While there was little to choose between the two sides, lady luck did not shine on the Motormen, who saw former goalkeeper Tim Dittmer pull off two excellent saves and have good claims for a penalty turned away. And at the other end, a wind-assisted corner flew straight into the visitors net and a mis-hit shot trickled over the line to give the Railwaymen a 2-0 lead after 58 minutes.

Motors did pull one goal back seven minutes later when Tom Field comfortably converted a penalty following a foul on Keith Smith, but any hopes of a fight-back came unstuck shortly after, when Mark Smyth scored his second of the day.

This weekend the Motormen are without a fixture, as their scheduled opponents, Tamworth, are involved in FA Trophy action, but next Tuesday, Vauxhall's last chance for silverware this season is on the line, when they make the short trip to Blue Square Premier club Altrincham for a Unibond Cheshire Senior Cup semi-final tie.