FA UMBRO TROPHY ROUND TWO

RADCLIFFE BORO 0 - ACCRINGTON STANLEY...3

A RADCLIFFE Boro side looking jaded after their recent cup exploits had no answer to Lancashire rivals Stanley.

Kevin Glendon's men made a bright start, but failed to carve out any clear cut chances and Stanley comfortably coped with whatever Boro threw at them.

The game marked the return of prodigal son Paul Mullin, who joined Stanley from Stainton Park at the beginning of the campaign.

But the £15,000 man got no change out of his old mate David Bean, who excelled at the back for Boro.

There was little in the way of scoring chances for either team in a lacklustre first period and it was entirely fitting that the opening goal, when it came after 36 minutes, should be from a set piece.

Neat interplay at the end of the Boro box between Gary Williams and Mullin resulted in former Shaker Mark Patterson drilling in a dangerous cross that James Price was happy to clear for a corner.

Grimace

His smile turned to a grimace seconds later when Patterson's inch-perfect flag kick was met by big defender Robbie Williams, who powered a stunning header past Danny Hurst.

The best chance Boro had of getting back on level terms came eight minutes after the break when a superb ball from skipper Mark Dempsey sent Dave Collins through on goal.

However, the Boro man's low, angled shot was blocked by Stanley 'keeper Jamie Speare, who spread himself well.

In a bid to force their way back into contention Glendon rang the changes midway through the second period.

Collins was replaced by evergreen striker Ian Lunt, while Eamonn Kelly and former Tranmere youngster Craig Taylor replaced Whealing and Scott Wilson.

But the visitors weren't to be denied and they edged further in front after 72 minutes from another Patterson corner kick.

This time he picked out big Wayne Maddock at the back post. He headed into the path of Russell Payne, who gleefully lashed the ball into the roof of the net from point-blank range.

As Boro went in search of the goal to get them back into contention they began to leave gaps at the back and twice Hurst was called into action to superbly foil Stanley substitute Paddi Wilson.

In a rare goal chance for the home side Neill Hardy flashed a powerful header over the angle of bar and post from a Dempsey free-kick, but four minutes from time Boro's misery was complete when Payne grabbed his second and Accrington's third following a quick break.

RADCLIFFE BOROUGH: Hurst, Battersby, Whealing, S Kelly, Bean, Dempsey, Collins, Carden, Wilson, Hardy, Price. Substitutes: E Kelly, Lunt, Taylor, Edwards, Senior.

Referee: Mr P Bennett

A RADCLIFFE Boro side looking jaded after their recent FA Cup had no answer to Lancashire rivals Stanley.