VAUXHALL Motors lost a third game in four matches as they went down 3-2 at Atherton Collieries.

A very quick start for Atherton had them in the lead in less than five minutes when Isaac Godwin failed to make a good connection on a ball flying his way. This allowed a cross to drop to Keilin Adams who outmuscled Vita Mbolokele and knocked home easily.

It didn’t take long for the Motors to react however, as an equally poor piece of defending by Pa Babou Jenkins whose clearance sliced to Nick Rushton on the edge of the box afforded him an opportunity to threaten the Collieries goal. He beat his man and absolutely laced his effort into the top right corner equalising in spectacular fashion.

Ten minutes later the pressure Vauxhall had been applying would be rewarded when a long ball to Jawad Jebrin saw him brought down from behind inside of the penalty area. Rushton stepped up and calmly added his second of the game.

Colls had the first meaningful chance of the second half with a shot at the bottom corner easily prevented by Jack Atkinson.

Great football between Rushton, Kev Ellison and Josh Quarless gave the tall striker the opportunity to get a strike on goal inside the area. He had the challenge of shifting his body a full 360 degrees and this cost him power which meant it was tame and easily collected by Sol Honor

Mistakes and poor communication between Mbolokele and Atkinson caught the Motors number one in no man’s land on the left side of the area. This meant a ricocheted ball across the face of goal was tapped home by Aaron Dwyer with nobody to prevent the strike.

Three minutes later an unbelievable free kick just outside the 18 yard box turned two into three for Atherton Collieries as Matthew Bryan stepped up and placed his left footed curling effort in the top right corner.

Substitute Connor Rankin was back in the side and a long ball landed on the striker's head. Unfortunately the goal bound header was prevented brilliantly by a back-pedalling Honor.

Two minutes later a long ball landed in Jebrin's path at the back post. His scissor kick was again stopped by Honor who was at full stretch and tipped the chance to safety

Vauxhall would fail to muster up any more chances and the defeat sees them slip to second in the Northern Premier League West table, four points behind Widnes. 

The Motormen at home next Saturday against Stafford Rangers.