RADCLIFFE BORO...3
BLACKPOOL M...0
Lancashire Marsden Trophy Round Two
MATCH balls may come to be in short supply at Radcliffe if striker Steve 'Fozzy' Foster continues his scoring streak with a few more hat-tricks like the one that put Boro into the third round.
"Another good win, another clean sheet and some of the lads who have missed out recently got a deserved game and we are through to the next round, so all-in-all a good night," was Boro boss Kevin Glendon's reaction to this latest Boro win.
The visitors tried to use their physical approach to rustle Boro's feathers but they were having none of it and, as early as the fifth minute, Josh Mitten had the ball in the back of the Mechanics' net only for it to be disallowed for offside.
Four minutes later he was put through down the left channel but this time managed to shoot into the side netting.
Despite all their huffing and puffing a quarter of an hour elapsed before the visitors had their first shot on goal when Colin Sullivan's low drive went the wrong side of the left post.
With Davey Luker marshalling the defence it was left to Karl Marginson to steer things Boro's way in midfield and he did just that, teeing up the opener on 22 minutes.
He intercepted a pass just inside his own half, turned and pumped a high ball up towards the Mechanics' goal. Foster controlled as it as it came down and as he moved into the box let rip a rasping shot that flew into the net.
Minutes later his new partner in crime Mitten saw his shot pushed around a post by the diminutive Mechanics' keeper Alan Williams.
On the half-hour a great one-two between Blackpool's' towering striker Peter Taberner and defender Nigel Marlow saw the latter test Danny Hurst in the Boro goal with a fierce drive, followed shortly afterwards by a stinging shot from Gavin Hughes, but Hurst looked comfortable making the saves.
Another Foster effort was punched out by the keeper who then denied Mitten with his feet before the visitors had a penalty claim waved away by referee Mr Handley seconds before the half-time whistle.
If Blackpool thought Foster and Mitten were lively in the first half they were in for a surprise in the second as Boro's latest dynamic duo set about the Mechanics goal with a vengeance.
Within seconds of the restart Mitten played provider, sending Foster in down the right channel but his shot was saved. Mitten then controlled an up-field punt and his looping shot bounced to safety of the Mechanics' bar.
After another Mitten effort had gone wide it was Danny Hooper's turn to get in on the act and his bending shot connected with the right post.
On the hour youngster Rob Massey was replaced by another youth team player, James Hickman and within a minute Boro were 2-0 up.
Luker met a corner on the right and his header was nodded on by Foster at the near post for his second of the game on 61 minutes.
Foster and Mitten were giving the Mechanics' defence a torrid time, beating it with speed and skill and almost shooting at will, with another goal a forgone conclusion.
It arrived on 86 minutes and it was Foster who pounced on a pass on the penalty spot, controlled the ball, spun around and despatched it past the despairing Williams for his and Boro's third goal.
No, it wasn't a league game, and no, it wasn't against Unibond Premier opposition, but yes, it was a win, yes, it was a hat-trick and there would appear to be plenty more where that came from if Foster and Mitten continue to bond as well as they have so far.
Get more balls in Bernard.
BORO: Hurst, Astley, Whealing, Massey, Luker, Sampson, Hooper, Marginson, Mitten, Foster, Price. Subs Kelly (for Astley, 79), Carden, Battersby, White, Hickman (for Massey, 60)
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