WORCESTER City's away-day frustrations continued last night as they slumped 1-0 to Vauxhall Motors in Nation-wide North.

Andy Preece described the South Wirral clash as a must-not-lose fixture, but City were not at the races against the fast improving 'Motormen'.

A classy lob from Karl O'Donnell proved decisive, while Les Hines missed a second-half penalty to leave City still searching for their first away success.

Vauxhall were full value for the win, their fifth in six league games, as City were left to contemplate on a below-par display. However, Leon Kelly almost gave Worcester the lead inside 20 sec-onds but his shot deflected wide.

Pacy Motors then co-ordinated two decent opportunities, Mike Garrity first lashed a 30-yard screamer that Danny McDonnell tipped over, while unmarked Peter Cumisky headed wide Tom Field's right-wing cross.

At the other end, Liam McDonald, starting his first league game in over two months, struck the side-netting from Nick Colley's low cut-back.

Vauxhall revved their engines again, Field blasting wide of the upright as McDonnell stood beaten. But their pressure eventually told on 32 minutes.

O'Donnell escaped the attention of Des Lyttle and debutant Dennis Pearce to receive Brian Morgan's 40-yard pass. From the edge of City's penalty box, O'Donnell nonchalantly defeated Mc-Donnell with an inch-perfect lob.

From ten yards out Adam Webster missed with a soft header as City strived to level. They were then denied a cast-iron penalty when goalkeeper Tim Dittmer clattered Kelly.

The burly striker toe-poked Webster's through ball goalwards to which full-back Morgan hacked off the line, but Worcester's management team were incensed by Dittmer's challenge.

City stepped up a gear immediately after the interval and landed a spot-kick decision when Morgan pushed Webster inside the Motors' area.

But Hines lost his cool and slammed the ball over the bar from 12 yards. It was to prove a costly miss from the usually reliable set-piece specialist.

Preece threw bodies forward as time ticked away, adding himself and Troy Wood off the bench to play four strikers together in the final 20 minutes. But Vauxhall coped admirably to wrap up three vital points.

Worcester: McDonnell, Warner, Hines (Preece 80), Pearce, Thompson, Lyttle, Warmer (Hyde 65), Colley, Kelly, Webster, McDonald (Wood 71). Subs: Hodnett, Khan.