Gretna...1

Radcliffe Borough...2

THREE valuable points gained from a competent rather than spectacular performance kept Borough ahead of the field in the UniBond Division One table.

What must really have pleased Boro manager Kevin Glendon though was that this victory was achieved with a depleted team against a side who have climbed the table rapidly recently.

Missing for Boro were captain Mark Dempsey, Scot Wilson, Andy Walker and Eamon Kelly -- all midfielders who would surely have started.

But the quality of the Boro squad meant that playing Simon Kelly and David Bean in midfield did nothing to weaken the performance.

Boro dominated the first half with the wind at their backs. Ian Lunt, making his first start in the league this season, had a couple of early efforts, but it was leading scorer Jody Banim who set Boro on their way in the seventh minute with yet another exquisitely-taken goal.

He collected the ball outside the penalty area, bamboozled a defender and arrowed a low, 20-yard shot into the bottom corner.

Banim continued to pose problems for the home defence. An overhead kick almost took Mathieson by surprise and on 18 minutes Banim found himself clean through, but the keeper was out quickly to block.

Boro were dominant in the early stages, with the midfield trio of Eamon Elliott, Kelly and Bean in control and Lunt showing some of his old magic up front, striking up a useful partnership with Banim.

As Gretna came into the game more, Boro keeper Danny Hurst had to be on his mettle.

Richard Landon playing as an emergency centre half again, showed moments of hesitation, but Hurst was excellent and was quickly off his line to clear on several occasions.

On the half hour mark Gretna skipper Mark Dobie produced a stinging shot that forced Hurst into a splendid, full-length save.

He repeated the feat to to deny Ryan Errington on the strole of half-time.

In between these Gretna efforts, Lunt produced a neat turn, but shot just wide and Elliott fired wide from 25 yards.

The half-time break gave Glendon the chance to fine tune the system. Landon was moved to his more accustommed striking role and Bean moved back to bolster the heart of the defence.

The changes worked a treat. Despite more sustained pressure from the home team, Boro were always in command. When the Scottish outfit did threaten they found James Price in top form with some immaculate cover tackling.

The second goal came following good work from Simon Kelly. His persistence won a right wing corner and Tony Whealing's flighted flag kick was back-headed by Bean into the bottom corner.

Gretna kept plugging away, but with little threat, whilst Boro continued to push forward on the break, with Landon showing some neat touches.

It was not until the last minute that Gretna pulled a goal back. A corner wasn't cleared and the ball fell invitingly for David Mawson, who fired home from close range.

The goal gave the home side the impetus to push forward in search of an equaliser, but the three minutes of added time passed with no further scares for Boro.

The win extends Boro's lead at the top of the table to four points and sets them up nicely fopr Saturday's Umbro Trophy clash with Accrington Stanley.

RADCLIFFE BOROUGH: Hurst 8, Battersby 7, Whealing 7, S Kelly 7, Bean 7, G Wilson 8, Lunt 7, Elliott 7, Landon 7, Banim 8, Price 8. Substitutes: G Wilson (for Banim 81 mins). Not used: Collins, Glendon.