RADCLIFFE Boro fell for the sucker punch of "you're never more vulnerable than when you've just scored" in a 3-2 defeat at Matlock Town.

With the final minutes ticking away the Derbyshire outfit held sway at 2-1 in a rather dour Unibond Division One encounter. Suddenly Boro appeared to have grabbed at least a point with a leveller on 84 minutes.

Mark Dempsey floated the ball over to the far post for substitute Ian Callaghan to fire his first ever goal for Boro with a shot across the keeper and into the far corner.

A draw would have been no more than Radcliffe deserved. The relief of the equaliser was short-lived as within a minute Mick Tilly got his second of the game for Matlock leaving the visitors too little time to hit back.

Losing out was a bitter pill for Boro as they had benefited from a belated Christmas gift after only two minutes when a Tony Whealing free kick squirmed through the home keeper's legs and in. Matlock levelled before the break when skipper Tilly produced a delightful chip from 25 yards. The second Matlock goal came with a header from Andy Simpson. The promptings and non-stop effort of man of the match Dempsey always gave Boro hope but that momentary lapse in concentration proved crucial.

Tomorrow night Radcliffe Boro entertain Morecambe and Ramsbottom United, whose home Worthington Challenge Trophy game on Saturday against Clitheroe was postponed, travel to Squires Gate. Both games are in the LFA Marsden Challenge Trophy Round Two.