SPENNYMOOR UNITED...3

RADCLIFFE BORO...1

Unibond League Premier Division

THIS loss at Brewery Field ensured a nail-biting finale to the regular season.

Boro complete their league fixtures when Burscough visit Stainton Park, and Kevin Glendon's boys need at least a draw to claim the final play-off spot.

The only team that can catch them, Frickley Athletic, are two points behind, although Boro do have a better goal differential.

Up in Durham, Boro were again almost caught cold in the opening minute, when Jon Cullen's cheeky long range chip had keeper Danny Hurst at full stretch, just managing to tip it over for a corner.

Then, from the resulting flag kick, the returning Davey Luker had to scramble the ball off the line to prevent the home side grabbing a first minute lead.

But slowly, Boro began to get their act together and force their way into the game.

Richard Battersby's pass found Simon Carden just 10 yards out, but he failed to take his opportunity.

But Boro did grab the lead on 24 minutes, when sub Mark Redshaw, on for Lee Duffy, beat two defenders to set-up Steve Foster, who gave his side the lead.

However, it lasted just 16 minutes before Boro suffered five minutes of madness that saw the home side grab a commanding 3-1 lead.

Moor got back on terms when Steve Preen rounded Hurst before giving Danny Brunskill the easy task of tapping in.

Two minutes later they went in front when Preen this time set-up Jon Agbatar, whose fiercely struck low shot gave Hurst no chance.

But before Boro could take advantage of the half-time break to re-focus, Brunskill beat his man on the edge of the box before evading Hurst to sent Moor into the break with a comfortable 3-1 lead.

Moor carried on where they left off in the second half, and Hurst was called upon to foil Brunskill, Preen and Andy Brown, as the home side went for the kill.

Boro did create further chances of their own, as they fought to redress the balance.

Foster was denied by an acrobatic save from Moor's keeper Liam Sutcliffe, while Carden, seeking to atone for his early miss, went the dramatic route himself, but Sutcliffe was equal to his overhead effort.

Boro stoked up the pressure as the clock ticked down, but once more had the bullets but no-one to fire them.

BORO: Hurst, Battersby, Whealing, Luker, Spencer, Sampson, Marginson, Carden, Duffy, Foster, Darby. Subs: Redshaw, Rowe, Ladley.