RADCLIFFE BORO...3 CONGLETON TOWN...1

LEE KISSOCK and Neil Hardy scored the crucial goals that put Radcliffe Borough back on the victory trail after their hiccup at Kendal.

A lively game against relegation-threatened Congleton, surprisingly, didn't produce the goal chances it merited.

Boro made the most of those they carved out after the visitors had hit back quickly early on following Kissock's opener for Boro.

Radcliffe were once again without skipper Mark Dempsey, who is suffering from a virus. That meant another chance for Scott Wilson to shine in the pivotal midfield role usually assumed by Dempsey and he rose to the challenge admirably.

David Bean took over the captain's armband from Dempsey, but the Boro lost him quickly to a hamstring tweak after about six minutes or so.

Richard Battersby, who has had to be content with a seat on the substitute's bench recently as Andy Walker has been preferred to him, came on and did well in his usual right wing back role as Walker moved into midfield.

Battersby supported his midfield men and strikers well with a string of crosses and runs down the right, while Walker filled in on the left-hand side of midfield.

Boro got the boost of that early Kissock goal when he pounced on a rebound that pinged back off the diving Kevin Taylor in the Congleton goal to fire Boro into a fourth minute lead.

It looked like Boro might be in for a bit of a rout against the team occupying bottom spot in the UniBond Division One table.

The Cheshire lads had other ideas. They scored a similar goal to Boro's in the 12th minute as Peter Weston ran through, shook off a defender and shot for goal. The ball came back off Danny Hurst, but Weston put the rebound into the back of the net.

Sadly, while Congleton certainly competed for the whole 90 minutes they couldn't come up with another goal opportunity.

Kissock was looking lively though and seemed to have added a bit of extra pace to his game, according to the watching Dempsey.

He came close to a second goal in the 21st minute when he had a shot cleared off the Congleton goal-line.

That was it as far the first half action went and the second half didn't produce a goal until the 69th minute.

This time Neill Hardy charged into the penalty area and met a Battersby cross from the right to head in his 16th goal of the season.

Not to be outdone, Hardy's strike partner, Kissock, shook himself free off his marker about 25 yards out and gave himself just enough space to try a smart little chip shot that flew just wide in the 80th minute.

Taylor did well to punch out a Tony Whealing corner right on the line with two minutes to go, but referee benefitted from some generous refereeing from referee Margetson in stoppage time.

The Cleckheaton chose to ignore screams from the Congleton players that they had a player lying on the deck close to the dug outs looking in need of treatment after a challenge by Scott Wilson and Walker ran in from the right, sidestepped the goalkeeper and fired in a third for Boro.

It may have come late, but Kevin Glendon's men were full value for the 3-1 final scoreline and look a good bet to finish to finish in the top half of the table by the end of the season.

RADCLIFFE BOROUGH: Hardy 6; Walker 6, S Kelly 7, Bean 6, G Wilson 7, Price 7; E Kelly 6, S Wilson 7, Whealing; Kissock 8, Hardy 7. Substitutes: Battersby (for Bean 6 mins) 7. Not used: Croxton, Carter. Referee: Mr D C Margetson (Cleckheaton). Attendance: 138.