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Nov 14 2012 by Our Correspondent, Birkenhead News

THE losing streak continues for the Motormen as on-loan midfielder Tom Platt scored twice for Harrogate as they eased into the next round of the FA Trophy.

The opening stages of the game at Rivacre Park were fairly even with both sides having plenty of possession but rarely threatening in front of goal.

On 15 minutes, a Dave Merris corner was headed goalbound by Harrogate captain Alan White but Louis Moss was well positioned to clear off the line for Motors.

The away side started to get a foothold in the game and their possession eventually paid off on 41 minutes when another Merris corner was headed home from close range by Platt.

Motors looked lively straight after the interval and on 48 minutes got a deserved equaliser. Mike Burns whipped in a dangerous corner and a half hearted clearance by the Harrogate defence fell kindly for Tom Rutter who was given time to poke the ball home from eight yards.

Just five minutes later, Harrogate were 2-1 up when another corner was not dealt with by the Motormen and Platt was on hand to scramble the ball home from three yards out.

It got worse for the home side shortly after when Leon Clowes was sent off after receiving his second yellow card of the game for a late challenge on Dan Clayton.

The goal of the game was scored on 59 minutes when Paul Beesley ran at the Motors defence before cleverly chipping the ball over Motors keeper Zac Jones from 20 yards to make it 3-1.

After the game, manager Carl Macauley said: “I thought the first half was fairly even however we need to learn how to defend set pieces. We got ourselves back into the game just after half-time but made life difficult yet again by going down to 10 men.”

He added: “I am currently looking to strengthen the squad but these things take time, it’s not going to happen overnight.

“Finding a prolific striker is the priority at the moment as we have only scored once in our last four games. I haven’t got an open cheque book however so the signings I make have to be the right signings for Vauxhall Motors Football Club.”

VVauxhall: Jones, Noone, Thompson, Hannigan, Nicholas, Clowes, Mahon, Moss (Roberts-Nurse 57), Rutter, Burns (Clair 74), Winslade (Kocsis 74). Subs not used: Egerton, Ellison (GK)