Vauxhall picked up their first away win of season in this bottom of the table encounter. With their win Vauxhall swapped places with Blyth in the bottom 3 of the Blue Square North table.

In a stop start game not helped by the constent blowing up by Referee Khatib, neither side showed much flow passing. However, the league leading goalscorer Paul Taylor showed a couple of pieces of class to set up his sides goals. Infact throughout the 90 minutes Spartans never tested Sean Lake in the Motor’s goal who had previously conceded 16 goals on their travels this season.

The first opening fell to the visitors on 23 minutes. Steve Johnson down the left found Taylor in the penalty area, he turned and saw his shot parried by goalkeeper Adam Bartlett only for then Anthony Wright’s effort cleared off the line by Spartans defender Andrew Leeson.

The visitors took the lead on 36 minutes when Taylor left Spartans captain Peter Snowden marking shadows, as he turned inside the area to set up Wright to fire home into the top corner of Bartlett’s net.

Spartans created two half chances on the stroke of half time. Alex Gildea released Robert Dale down the left wing, he dribbled past two defenders before he saw his effort curl away from goal. Then a Dale left sided corner was met at the far post by the head of Chris McCabe, the ball falling to defender Snowden who sliced over the bar.

Spartans should have done better at the start of the second half, when with a free kick just outside the Motors penalty area Andrew Thompson wasted the opportunity by putting his shot high and wide of the target.

Johnson for Vauxhall nearly increased their lead with a thunderous effort which was blocked on the 6 yard line by Spartans defender Michael Hedley.

The visitors grabbed their second of the afternoon with 9 minutes remaining. That man Taylor again caused havoc in the Blyth defence as he left two Blyth defenders fumbling on the deck before sliding an inch perfect pass to Thomas Field who calmly slotted home past the advancing goalkeeper.

On this display its going to be a long hard battle ahead, who will come out on top by surving at the end of the season, well for the home side they desperately are in need for some sort of winning run, and for the Motors it could depend on whether they can keep a hold of striker Taylor.

Spartans: 1 Adam Bartlett, 2 Michael Hedley, 3 Alex Gildea, 4 Andrew Leeson, 5 Peter Snowdon, 6 Gareth Williams, 7 Andrew Thompson (sub Kenny Boyle), 8 Chris McCabe, 9 Rob Dale, 10 Liam Gildea (sub Adrian Webster), 11 Graham Fenton (sub Scott Bell).
Subs not used:- Ben Christensen and Richard Forster