Radcliffe Borough 2 Eastwood Town 1

By MARC HIGGINSON

RADCLIFFE BOROUGH got back to winning ways and consolidated their promotion credentials with a hard-fought victory over a stubborn Eastwood side.

A well-taken Lee Kissock goal and a lucky Scott Wilson effort ensured Town went back to Nottingham with nothing and Borough enter the festive period as the team to catch at the top of the UniBond Division One table.

Boro dominated throughout, but their chances were limited. However, chances were even more at a premium for Eastwood due to the well-organised Boro defence which was led by Gus Wilson after David Bean left the field injured on the half hour.

Wilson was outstanding and togther with first Bean and then Simon Kelly, he blunted the considerable threat posed by the towering striker Mark Smith and his partner Peter Stubley.

In midfield, Mark Dempsey, Scott Wilson and Eamon Elliott ran the game. They were busy, aggressive and creative. Dempsey in particular was fired up and was involved in one or two altercations as the game threatened to boil over either side of half-time.

Danny Hurst in the Radcliffe goal made the save of the first half when he dived low to his right to keep out a Stubley effort. However, that was as far as Town got in the first half as Jody Banim, Elliott and Wilson all squandered good opportunities.

Temperatures plunged in the second half, but the performance level of the Boro side soared as they pressed for that all important opener which came on 58 minutes from a training ground move.

It all came from an Elliott corner, which was flicked on by the impressive Banim to leave the unmarked Kissock with the simplest of tap-ins.

Kissock, who replaced Richard Landon, had only been on the field for three minutes before he broke the deadlock.

Boro poured forward in their quest for the killer third goal and it came in unusual circumstances with 67 minute son the clock.

There seemed no danger when Town goalkeeper Danny Bryant prepared to pass the ball upfield, but he was quickly charged down by the impressive Scott Wilson and the clearance rebounded off Wilson and into the back of the Eastwood net, much to the embarrassment of Bryant.

The goal epitomised the spirit of Wilson and his team-mates. They chased every ball and made their own luck through sheer endeavour.The game then fell flat for the next 20 minutes bar a few rash challenges from players on both sides and the referee was handing out cards for fun. The game was given a boost when Eastwood pulled a goal back on 89 minutes due to defensive sloppiness in the Boro penalty area. Steve Smith was the scorer and Eastwood then pressed for an equaliser.

The referee seemed reluctant to blow, but when he did it was met with huge relief in the Boro camp, including Radcliffe's recuperating manager, Kevin Glendon.

Boro were impressive throughout and were full value for all the points.

RADCLIFFE BOROUGH: Hurst 7, Battersby 6, Whealing 7, G Wilson 8, Bean 8, Dempsey 7, Elliott 7, S Wilson 7, Landon 5, Banim 7, Price 6. Substitutes: S Kelly (for Bean, 30mins), Kissock (for Landon, 55mins). Not used: Lunt.

Saturday's game was the first time stoppage time has been indicated and announced at the end of each half in the UniBond League.