Droylsden 1 Vauxhall Motors 2: VAUXHALL Motors took advantage of Droylsden’s FA Cup hangover to earn three vital points in their relegation battle.

Indeed, the men from Ellesmere Port were gifted their first goal, when Liam Brownhill tried to steer the ball back to Craig Mawson instead of finding touch.

The ball rolled goalwards past the stranded keeper and Saul Otobo gratefully tapped home from close range.

That was on 27 minutes, and prior to that, it had mostly been one-way traffic in the other direction with Steve Pickford volleying over and Matthew Tipton heading against the post.

Steve Beck then turned in the area, but James Coates produced a great reaction save to turn the ball away.

Pickford again went close once the hosts had fallen behind, but they struck level with a fine goal on 33 minutes.

Tony Gray cut inside his man on the right flank to deliver an inviting ball to the far post, where Alex Brown converted with a diving header.

Otobo could have had his second goal on 39 minutes, shooting wastefully over from the edge of the box after beating Brownhill.

Jamie Tandy’s shot hit the woodwork for Droylsden before Brown had Coates at full stretch to palm away his 20-yard piledriver.

Motors scored what proved to be the winner six minutes after the restart when Alan Griffiths stooped to bravely head home in a crowded box from a corner kick.

Burke pulled a shot wide for the visitors and Mike Byron headed off target for The Bloods as the game looked to go either way.

Home substitute Carl Lamb went close with two efforts, while Kevin Townson headed wide as the home side continued to create chances.

However, Chris Noone should have tested Mawson with 10 minutes remaining, but Motors held firm to take first blood in this festive fixture.

Attendance: 306