LANCASTER City's championship drive stalled at Vauxhall Motors on Tuesday night as Barrie Stimpson's side slumped to a 4-1 defeat.

City were behind after just three minutes when Matt Haddrell's free header from a corner sailed past Mark Thornley.

Vauxhall have undergone a mini-slump of their own in recent weeks, but the early opener gave them confidence and they went on the attack early on.

City came back into the match midway through the half, and new signing Michael Yates score his third goal in as many games on 25 minutes finished well from the edge of the area.

The Dolly Blues would have hoped to have gone on from there but, instead, Vauxhall produced an instant response through the division's leading striker, Terry Fearns, who fired home from long range.

The second half saw City create more chances, with the influential Kenny Mayers and Colin Potts both carving out half chances.

However, Motors secured the three points in the last 20 minutes with two goals from set pieces.

Nick Young headed home number three with 17 minutes left and, in the last five minutes, Fearns added his second from close range.

Lancaster now need to start collecting victories if they are to close the gap on Nigel Clough' s Burton Albion, starting with Gainsborough Trinity's visit to Giant Axe on Saturday.