UniBond League Challenge Cup Third round - Radcliffe Borough...2 Barrow...1

RICHARD Battersby caught the scouts' attention again on Tuesday night with a sparkling first half show against Premier Division Barrow.

Conference side Southport sent a possee to cast their eyes over Barrow striker Grant Holt, but they ended up watching Battersby and quizzing Boro officials about the fast-raiding right wing back.

Battersby has previously had trials with Nationwide League club Crewe and he's enjoying a rich run of form at the moment.

He and dribbling wizard Jody Banim tormented the Barrow defence in a first half almost totally dominated by the Boro and Battersby went on to cap an outstanding personal display with what proved to be the matchwinning goal just before the interval.

"There were a few other people there last night too," said Boro boss Kevin Glendon. "It's understandabale because the lads are playing well and some individuals are doing well."

Nobody's going anywhere just yet though, apart from goalkeeper Danny Hurst, whose proposed training stint with Nationwide Second Division high-fliers Wigan Athletic now looks likely to take place sometime after the Christmas period.

Hurst had to be on his toes as early as the fourth minute against Barrow when Holt whipped in a cross from the left. Trevor Tearney was left with only Hurst to beat from 12 yards out, but he put his header way over the bar.

After some sterling work in defence from James Price, Simon Kelly and David Bean, Boro gradually began to take control and Barrie Keeling, slotting into a new-look midfield on the left, headed just wide on 20 minutes from a Battersby cross.

Bean, making a rare start after his recent injury problems had restricted him to appearances from the bench as he made a tenative comeback, was bang on target in the 37th minute though when he leapt highest amongst a bunch of players to head in another Battersby cross, this time from the left.

Banim and Tony Whealing both went close with cross shots from the left before Battersby came up with his wonder strike.

A Banim free-kick smacked against the near post and, from the resulting corner, Battersby smashed a glorious shot from the left-hand side of the penalty box into the far corner of the Barrow goal.

A great way to end a half Boro could be proud of -- but they were put to the test in a different way after the break.

Barrow responded by showing their attacking qualities, particularly with a series of crosses into the Boro danger area from either flank.

Holt and substitute Mike Robinson hit the woodwork and Hurst got behind a drive from Craig Redhead, while Banim hit a post and went close with another effort, as did Steve Spencer, before Barrow finally forced their way back into it six minutes from the end.

A header was cleared from close to the line and Steve Housman pounced to scramble the ball into the Boro net to throw Barrow a lifeline.

Boro had to endure a torrid last few minutes as Barrow pressed for an equaliser and Holt was denied a highly debatable penalty when he went down after a tussle with Kelly just inside the box.

Substitute Neill Hardy could have wrapped it up though as the game went into five minutes of stoppage time, but he volleyed wide after Richard Landon, another of Boro's substitutes, set him up after the pair charged in on the Barrow goal.

A place in the quarter-finals then, another prize scalp and the impressive run goes on for Boro.

RADCLIFFE BOROUGH: Hurst 7; Battersby 8, Kelly 7, Bean 7, Price 8, Whealing 7; Spencer 7, Spooner 7, Keeling 7; Archer 6, Banim 8. Substitutes: Hardy, Landon, Elliott.

Boro travel to Ossett Town on Saturday for a UniBond League Division One game. There only injury doubt is over midfielder Scott Wilson, who missed the Barrow game because of a sore ankle.