Witton Albion 3 Radcliffe Borough 1

FOR the second time in a fortnight, midfield man Eamon Kelly found himself in goal as Boro goalkeeper Martin Campbell, deputising for Danny Hurst, broke a leg at Wincham Park on Tuesday night.

Kelly did everything that could have been expected of him and this defeat was due to a lack lustre display rather than the absence of a recognised goalkeeper for the last 65 minutes.

Highfield United keeper Campbell was soon in the thick of the action as Witton attacked from the kick-off, and after only four minutes he produced a tremendous save, turning over a 20-yard piledriver from David Anane.

Boro's efforts seldom troubled the Albion defence as the ball was given away too easily in midfield and frontrunners Neill Hardy and Lee Kissock found it tough going.

Andy Walker put in one good run and cross and Hardy forced Morgan into conceding a corner, but the Witton defence was always in control.

Campbell had to be quick off his line to deny Anane after 15 minutes, but ten minutes later he collided with the Witton striker as he was again forced to come off his line.

The keeper was obviously in trouble and, after five minutes treatment, he had to leave the field on a stretcher.

Kelly took over the keeper's jersey and Richard Battersby came off the bench.

Boyd tested the stand-in keeper with a dipping 30-yarder that just cleared the bar.

The Boro defence protected Kelly well until the fifth minute of first half stoppage time when Paul Hennin latched onto a through ball to beat the stranded Kelly. Boro's best first half efforts saw Kissock, then Mark Dempsey burst into the box, only to be baulked as they bore down on goal. In each case the visitors penalty appeals went unanswered.

Albion strengthened their grip on the game five minutes into the second half when Gus Wilson slipped on the wet surface and Anane took advantage, firing low past Kelly from the edge of the area.

Neat build-up play invovling Scott Wilson and Battersby saw the latter's cross scarmbled clear and Boro's best effort came on 63 minutes when Kissock's strong run and cross foud Walker, whose close-range shot hit Albion keeper Greygoose and rebounded for a corner.

Witton killed the game off after 70 minutes when a through ball caught the Boro defence square and substitute Melford Knight fired the ball past the advancing Kelly.

To their credit, Boro managed to produce their best spell of the game despite being 3-0 down and were rewarded with a consolation on 82 minutes.

Battersby delivered and inswinging corner and Kissock headed home from close range.

The game ended with Boro on top, but the damage had already been done with some slip-shod passing and a general lack of urgency.

RADCLIFFE BOROUGH: Campbell 7, Walker 7, Whealing 6, S Kelly 6, G Wilson 7, Dempsey 6, E Kelly 7, S Wilson 6, Kissock 6, Hardy 6, Price 6. Substitutes: Battersby (for Campbell, 25 mins) 7, Carter (for Dempsey, 57 mins) 6, Farrelly (for Kissock, 89 mins).