Radcliffe Borough...4 Witton Albion...2

THERE's never a dull moment at Stainton Park these days and Saturday's pulsating encounter with Witton Albion followed the familiar pattern of goals and incident.

Seemingly cruising at half-time, Boro had goalkeeper Danny Hurst sent off immediately after the break, but still thoroughly deserved to win, although stand-in James Price had a decidedly uneasy time between the sticks.

The result hinged on an amazing two-minute spell in the first half when Boro blitzed a bemused Albion to score three times.

Witton had dictated the early play, with Mike Moseley threatening, and there was nothing to suggest what was to happen after quarter of an hour.

Albion goalkeeper Gibson had not been troubled up to that point, but within two minutes he had picked the ball out of his net three times.

David Bean opened the scoring, turning home a low Richard Battersby cross from close range.

Within a minute top scorer Jody Banim doubled the lead following excellent work by Neill Hardy. He turned well 25 yards from goal and unleashed a tremendous dipping shot that crashed against the underside of the bar. Banim was quickest to react and nodded home from no more than a yard out.

The cheers had barely died down when Banim collected his second. Simon Carden, who is staying with the Boro on loan from Accrington for another month, played him through and Banim's speed and strength saw him hold off Wes Simpson and smash an unstoppable shot past Gibson.

Witton's best effort saw Moseley hit the bar with Hurst beaten, but the best chances fell to Boro. Gibson saved Hardy's curled shot after good work by Carden and Banim just failed to reach an astute Hardy through ball.

With a 3-0 half-time lead, Boro were well in command, but events took a dramatic turn three minutes after the restart.

Hurst sprinted from his line to collect a through ball, but spilled it as he crashed to the ground.

In a vain attempt retrieve the situation Hurst upended Moseley, conceded a penalty and collected a red card. Hurst will now miss the away game at Matlock on March 8.

Defender James Price drew the short straw and donned the goalkeeper's jersey and despite going the right way, couldn't keep out Witton substitute Ben Johnson's spot kick.

Boro were now on the back foot, but Witton couldn't find a way through to test Price until the 70th minute. Casual defending gave Carl Rendell a chance and his low shot found the bottom corner.

With 20 minutes left and Price not inspiring confidence, Albion were now gunning for an equaliser, but that man Banim quickly restored Boro's two-goal advantage.

Battersby played a low free-kick to Banim who turned in a flash and whipped a shot past Gibson.

Witton thought they had pulled a goal back with ten minutes left when Rendell drilled a 25-yard shot into the top corner, but the linesman's raised flag ruled the effort out for offside.

Price parried Moseley's angled shot and Rose shot wide, whilst Gibson denied banim a fourth goal with a good block.

Gary Sampson came on for the last two minutes to show a cool head as Boro played out time.

The victory, against a team unbeaten in their previous nine games, was well deserved and was a reward for some tremendous hard work.

Midfielders Carden and Scott Wilson were tireless as ten-man Boro fought to hang on to their half-time lead -- but it was Boro's superior skill that carried the day.

RADCLIFFE BOROUGH: Hurst 6, Battersby 7, Whealing 7, Kelly 7, Bean 7, Keeling 7, Carden 7, Wilson 8, Hardy 7, Banim 9, Price 7. Substitutes: Landon (for Hardy 70 mins) 7, Sampson (for Carden 88 mins). Not used: Elliott.