UniBond League Division One - Leek Town...1 Radcliffe Borough...2 - A COLD, wet and windswept Harrison Park was a million miles from sunny Colwyn Bay on Tuesday evening, but the result was exactly the same as Saturday -- a 2-1 victory for Borough.
Again the Stainton Park men came from behind in a match in which the conditions dictated the pattern of play.
Manager Kevin Glendon was forced to change Saturday's winning line-up with Richard Landon replacing the injured Neill Hardy, Barrie Keeling standing in for the unavailable Nicky Spooner and Simon Kay replacing Tony Whealing.
Boro got off to a slow start, finding it difficult to make progress against the gale force wind.
Leek took the lead as early as the ninth minute with goalkeeper Danny Hurst paying the price for a poor goalkick. Hurst's kick went straight to Martin, who was brought down by Kay and Whittaker curled his wind-assisted free-kick round the wall, leaving Hurst rooted to the spot.
Boro almost equalised within two minutes. Jody Banim's mazy run and cross gave Landon a close-range chance, but Town keeper Morgan smothered the underhit shot.
The home team dominated the early stages, with Whittaker and Bevan having efforts saved by Hurst and Danylyk drifting an angled shot just wide.
Boro gradually came more into the game and a Simon Kelly, Richard Battersby build-up almost brought the equaliser for Banim.
The second half saw Boro dominate most of the play with Banim a constant threat. Twice he tested Morgan before he won the free-kick from which the equaliser came in the 62nd minute.
Battersby's inswinging kick was headed on by David Bean and Landon forced the ball home at the far post.
Leek threatened on the break with MacPherson shooting wide and Martin hitting the post.
It was Boro who grabbed the decisive third goal however and it was that man Banim who did the trick again in the 72nd minute.
He dribbled into the penalty area, left a defender for dead and angled his low drive beyond Morgan's dive.
Leek went in search of the equaliser, but the Boro defence, well marshalled by Martin Diggle, stood firm.
RADCLIFFE BOROUGH: Hurst 7, Battersby 7, Kay 7, Kelly 7, Diggle 8, Bean 7, Elliott 7, Keeling 7, Landon 7, Banim 8, Price 7. Substitutes: Whealing (for Bean, 78 mins), Grant (for Elliott, 88 mins). Not used: Lunt.
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