BORO boss Kevin Glendon is banking on Radcliffe star Neill Hardy being fit for Saturday's FA Cup clash with Oldham Town.

The key striker missed the midweek Unibond Premier defeat at Lancaster with flu but is expected to shrug off the virus in time for the second qualifying round.

He should be joined by fellow absentees Simon Kelly and Eamonn Elliott in Saturday's line-up as Glendon's injury headache eases a little.

And how they are needed after a morale-crushing 4-2 reverse at Lancaster on Tuesday.

The defeat -- Boro's third in seven days -- leaves them looking anxiously over their shoulders at the wrong end of the table.

With the squad reduced to the bare bones through injury and illness, it was again Boro's inability to defend which cost them dear.

To their credit, they did give their travelling supporters something to shout about with two late goals, but they came too late to affect the result.

Boro dominated the early proceedings with Jody Banim, Richard Battersby and Simon Carden all going close. But, for all their good work, Lancaster goalkeeper Mark Thomley was rarely tested.

Lancaster opened the scoring in the 27th minute thanks to some woeful defending. Possession was given away easily in midfield and a left wing cross found Phil Clarkson with time and space to pick his spot.

Boro's problems increased seven minutes later when Farrell Kilborne increased City's lead. The central defender was left totally unmarked from a corner and his 12-yard header found the bottom corner.

With Boro feeling sorry for themselves, things went from bad to worse three minutes before the break when Spencer conceded a penalty with a reckless tackle.

Danny Hurst managed to block Jamie Hughes' spot kick but the Lancaster man followed up to turn the rebound into the net.

In a half in which Boro had looked the better side for long periods, they were taught some harsh lessons and further misery wasn't long in coming after the break.

In the 53rd minute, Hurst could only parry a header from Hughes, who followed up to score.

With ten minutes remaining, Banim eventually broke Boro's duck, latching on to a long ball to beat Thornley from the edge of the area.

Four minutes later, Denham grabbed a second, heading home Battersby's free-kick, but it was too little too late.

Lancaster suddenly looked vulnerable, but time ran out with Boro on top but with too much ground to make up.

And Glendon was left reflecting on another performance marred by sloppy goals.

Boro: Hurst, Battersby, Whealing, Bean, Luker, Spencer, Landon, Carden, Denham, Banim, Price. Subs: Sampson, Margieson, Felgate.