WITH the UniBond Premier Division title already wrapped up, Stanley could be forgiven if they had gone through the motions at Rivacre Park last night.

Instead they put in a performance to show precisely why they are heading for the Conference.

From the moment Rory Prendergast fired the champions into a 34th minute lead, there was never much doubt about the outcome such was their dominance.

Yet it still took a superb injury time save from Jamie Speare to deny Motors' top scorer Terry Fearns an unlikely equaliser at the death.

This thoroughly deserved victory extended Stanley's unbeaten league run to 14 games as the out-of-sorts home side slipped to another home defeat, having previously been one of their main title rivals until a few weeks ago.

The only goal of the game was scored when an innocent throw-in on the left, from captain Peter Cavanagh, caused indecision between two home defenders and Prendergast raced clear before firing beyond Ralph with a sweet right foot shot from the edge of the area.

Suddenly it was all Stanley. The home keeper did well to deny Paul Mullin at the near post, Prendergast saw a fine header strike the face of an upright, Mullin flashed a header over the bar from Paul Howarth's right wing cross and James was just off target as the home side were completely overrun.

Then in injury time at the end of the half, a neat home move saw Fearns fire just wide of the far post. It was a similar story after the break with Stanley controlling much of the play and creating what few chances there were. Again Ralph was the busier comfortably saving from Howarth, but the Motormen still had their moments, but Fearns screwed a shot wide when put through by Nicky Young.

Generally though the Stanley defence held firm when needed and a comfortable victory seemed assured. But then deep into injury time Vauxhall almost grabbed an undeserved equaliser when Peter Cumiskey released Fearns clean through on goal, but Speare came to his side's rescue with an excellent save.

VAUXHALL: Ralph, Lawton, McDermott, Robinson, Tomlinson, McMullen, Nesbitt, Lynch, Fearns, Young, Cumiskey. Subs: Brazier, Aspinall, Ward.

STANLEY: Speare, Cavanagh, Howarth, Halford, Williams, Procter, Payne, Marsh, James, Mullin, Prendergast. Subs: Knowles, Welch, Calcutt. (Knowles for Marsh 79), Welch (for Payne) 84, Calcutt (for Prendergast) 84.

Att: 396.

VAUXHALL MOTORS ...0 ACCRINGTON STANLEY ...1