Matlock Town...2 Radcliffe Borough...1 by IAN HANNAY

JUST when it seemed things couldn't get any worse for Radcliffe Borough, they did!

Having slumped to their second defeat in four days they were dealt another blow after the final whistle when 33-goal leading goalscorer Jody Banim was sent off for abusing a linesman.

To make matters worse this all happened in a game played in farcical conditions. The pitch was waterlogged before the start and continuous heavy rain meant it resembled a paddy field long before the end.

Boro were forced to make two changes, with former Bolton Wanderers and Rochdale goalkeeper, David Felgate, replacing the suspended Danny Hurst and Richard Landon deputising for the injured David Bean at the heart of the Boro defence.

Radcliffe enjoyed all the early possession, but it quickly became obvious that passing the ball would be impossible on the waterlogged surface.

The pattern for the 90 minutes was set as early as the eighth minute when the ball stuck in a puddle, frustrating Simon Carden who was bearing down on goal.

Matlock adapted better to the conditions and their more direct approach paid dividends as they hit two goals in the space of three minutes.

Their top scorer, Steve Taylor, bagged the first after 18 minutes when the Boro defence failed to deal with a deep, right wing cross.

Felgate had no chance with that goal or the second from James Lukic. A short ball played behind the Boro defence found Lukic in space and he did the rest.

Banim almost found Neill Hardy and Barrie Keeling headed a corner just over, but the conditions, as much as Matlock, denied Boro.

They should have pulled a goal back in the 37th minute when Banim beat two men, rounded the keeper, but delayed his shot and the chance was gone.

Just before the break, Town keeper Tye pulled off a fine double save to deny Hardy.

The second half saw the pitch become heavier and heavier. With Matlock getting men behind the ball and the linesman giving offside against Boro at every opportunity, the frustration mounted.

Felgate got down well to deny Holland and Taylor had a chance when a back pass stuck in the mud. At the other end Hardy was denied by a superb save from Tye.

When Hardy hit the post with a header in the 70th minute it became obvious that this was not going to be Boro's day.

Matlock almost increased their lead on 81 minutes when Brown and Taylor combined to round Felgate, but Tony Whealing got back to block.

Boro did pull a goal back a minute later when Keeling forced the ball through to Banim who whipped a shot past Tye. This turned out to be just a consolation, because, try as they might, Boro just couldn't force another opening.

To make matters worse, Banim continued his running battle with the linesman after the final whistle and was sent off.

With all their promotion rivals winning this turned out to be an afternoon to forget for the Boro.

Hopefull, they will not be expected to play on such an atrocious surface again and they would surely have beaten fourth in the table Matlock in decent conditions.

RADCLIFFE BOROUGH: Felgate 7, Battersby 5, Whealing 6, Kelly 7, Landon 6, Keeling 8, Carden 6, Wilson 6, Hardy 7, Banim 6, Price 6. Substitutes: Elliott (for Battersby 70 mins) 6, Sampson (for Kelly 89 mins). Not used: Kay.