RADCLIFFE Boro's promotion hopes received a double boost on Monday when a 3-1 victory took them back into second place in the Unibond Division One -- cashing in on Spennymoor United's defeat at Bishop Auckland in a morning kick-off.

With Simon Canden's loan spell ended and Barne Keeling injured, Boro had a new look mid-field with Scott Wilson and Gary Sampson teaming up with Eamonn Elliott in the engine room.

It was Sampson who grabbed his chance with both hands by scoring two goals and having a hand in the other.

Boro found it difficult to strike up any rhythm in the early stages and the first chance fell to United full-back Darren Hughes, who volleyed over from the edge of the area. Jody Banin had a couple of chances but the former Rossendale man couldn't find the target, and when he whipped in an inviting cross in the 25 minutes, no Boro player was on hand.

Eamon Elliott was working hard for Boro as their game gradually came together. However, Danny Hurst was called on to stop a low shot from Mick Garrity and Tony Whealing put in a timely tackle on Craig Sargeson, as both teams probed for an opening.

The breakthrough came six minutes before the break. Sampson chased back to regain possession in midfield, and Whealing and Elliott combined to set up Banim, who turned sweetly to steer the ball past United's goal-keeper, John Gillies.

Rossendale pushed forward after the break, with former Boro striker Russell Brierley testing Hurst, but Boro were more accomplished and Martin Diggle was forced to head a dangerous cross from Richard Battersby over his own bar.

Sampson scored the first of his goals with a confident finish, 11 minutes into the second half. Banim turned well on the half-way line and played through. The youngster eluded one defender and clipped the advancing Gillies to notch his first goal for the club.

It took only four minutes for him to register his second, driving in from the edge of the area after Whealing's dangerous cross had been half cleared.

Banim continued to trouble his old club with his trickery but, with 13 minutes remaining, Lee Cooper pulled a goal back after capitalising on Hurst's miss-kick.

BORO TEAM: Hurst, Battersby, Whealing, Kelly, Brown, Sampson, Wilson, Elliott, Hardy, Banim, Price. Subs: Spencer, Bean, Archer.