JODY BANIM kept his place at the top of the Radcliffe Boro scoring charts, but it Eamon Elliott who led the way as Atherton LR were finally consigned to the FA Cup dustbin.

The brave North West Counties League Division One side had forced this replay with a battling performance at Stainton Park on Saturday.

They fought back from the shock of going 2-0 down inside four minutes to finally force a 3-3 draw in that one.

And it looked as if they had carried that spirit into Tuesday night's game at Crilly Park as Mark Jones notched his second goal of the tie to put LR into a shock fourth minute lead.

The boot was on the other foot though this time as Boro bounced back to draw level within four minutes.

Banim took most of the credit, dribbling past two defenders and firing in a shot that goalkeeper Dave Cummins blocked, only for it to bounce back into the net off Elliott.

There was no luck, however, about Elliott's second goal in the 20th minute. Richard Battersby's low cross was headed on by Lee Kissock and Elliott cut inside a defender before driving a low shot past Cummins. Radcliffe's tormentor from Saturday, Barry Massay, was again causing problems, but was playing in a midfield role against a Boro midfield trio of Elliott, Scot Wilson and Andy Walker on top form.

Atherton pushed forward after the break, but their long ball tactics rarely troubled the Boro defence.

Boro increased their lead after 55 minutes with a well-taken goal by Kissock. Elliott's penetrating run and pass found Kissock, whose first attempt struck the keeper, but the Boro striker kept his composure to fire the rebound past the stranded Cummins.

Atherton's more direct, physical approach saw them pull a goal back on the hour when Gus Wilson dwelled on the ball allowing, LR substitute, Paul Dean, to nip in and shoot past Hurst.

Boro's two-goal cushion was restored with ten minutes remaining. A long throw-in was headed on by Kissock and Banim bravely dived in to stab the ball past Cummins, injuring himself in the process.

Boro substitute David Bean completed the goal feast in the 87th minute when he rose to head home an Elliott corner.

The scoreline reflected the difference between the two sides with Boro's front two looking more potent, but more importantly, the midfield looked far more committed than they had done in the first match.

The return of skipper Mark Dempsey after injury for a brief ten-minute spell will only add to manager Kevin Glendon's pleasant selection problems for Saturday's home game against Lincoln United (kick-off 3pm).

RADCLIFFE BOROUGH: Hurst 7, Battersby 7, Whealing 7, G Wilson 6, Landon 7, Elliott 8, Walker 8, S Wilson 8, Kissock 7, Banim 8, Price 7. Substitutes: Bean (for Walker, 66 mins) 7, Dempsey (for Kissock, 81 mins). Not used: Lunt, Collins, Carter.