UniBond Division One: Belper Town 0 Radcliffe Borough 1

WITHOUT leading scorer Jody Banim, Radcliffe Borough found the Belper defence hard to unlock at Christchurch Meadow on Saturday.

A single second half goal, together with some solid defending and sheer hard work was enough to secure three valuable league points.

Ian Lunt took the place of the suspended Banim in an otherwise unchanged team.

Boro started brightly, but it was Belper who produced the first effort on goal when Cunningham headed straight at Danny Hurst following a flowing move.

Belper's neat approach play belied their lowly league position, but the Boro defence always looked composed, with wing backs Battersby and Whealing always willing to break quickly down the flanks.

The early stages were confined mainly to midfield with few goalmouth incidents. Boro created the better chances and Richard Landon headed wide and Richard Battersby fired wide after a penetrating run.

The two best chances of the half both fell to Boro. First a good move between Eamon Elliott and Battersby set up Landon at the far post, but Town goalkeeper Quy got down well to block the shot and Landon then turned provider, releasing Lunt, but Quy was out quickly.

Belper stepped up the pace after the break, but rarely looked like prising the Boro defence open. David Bean was outstanding.

The visitors looked slightly more dangerous on the break, but couldn't break the deadlock, despite a non-stop display from Elliott and the drive provided by skipper Mark Dempsey.

Fellow midfielder Scot Wilson finally found the key to unlock the home defence.

Dempsey hoisted a quickly-taken free-kick into the heart of the home defence, Bean and Landon challenged and Wilson drove the loose ball home from the edge of the penalty area.

Belper responded by forcing a series of corners, but Danny Hurstshowed a safe pair of hands when under pressure.

The commanding Bean was well supported by the unflappable Gus Wilson, whilst James Price was always alert.

Darren Turner twice and Liam Walsh had efforts on goal, but never looked like beating the in-form Hurst.

Belper's best chance of an equaliser came two minutes from the end when substitute Karl Payne found himself in the clear, but Hurst was out quickly to grab the ball when Payne tried a lob.

That was the final scare for Boro and they almost added a second themselves when Simon Kelly, a late substitute for Landon, shot tamely at Quy after a surging run.

Boro weren't at their best, but the still just about deserved this fvictory, which kept them at the top of the UniBond Division One table.

RADCLIFFE BOROUGH: Hurst 7, Battersby 7, Whealing 7, G Wilson 7, Bean 8, Dempsey 7, Lunt 7, S Wilson 7, Landon 7, Elliott 8, Price 7. Substitutes: Kissock (for Lunt, 69 mins) 7, S Kelly (for Landon, 88 mins). Not used: E Kelly.

Radcliffe's Marsden Trophy game at Clitheroe, originally scheduled for last Tuesday night, has been provisonally re-arranged for next Tuesday because of Clitheroe's involvement in the FA Vase.