MARINE 0, RADCLIFFE BORO 2

RADCLIFFE Borough produced a vintage performance against Marine in the FA Cup to put themselves one step away from joining Bury, Rochdale, Oldham Athletic et al in the first round proper.

Their 2-0 victory was well deserved as every man played his part in a sterling effort. Marine just couldn't cope with Boro's incisive passing and when they did attack they found the visitors' defence resolute and well drilled and Danny Hurst in unbeatable form.

Boro ripped into their Premier Division opponents form the kick-off and their slick inter-passing threatened to bring an early goal, Dempsey, Carden and Hardy all going close. At the other end, Hurst produced a couple of outstanding saves and handled the slippery ball immaculately.

The deserved breakthrough came on the half hour when Mark Dempsey timed his run from midfield to perfection to find himself in the clear. He confidently rounded Marine 'keeper Chris Clarke to slot home. The skippers celebrations with the Boro supporters saw him return to the field sporting the famous blue wig, which the referee's assistant eventually had to return to its owner.

Further first half chances saw Ian Lunt shoot just over and Simon Carden drag his shot wide as Boro continued to dictate the play. Marine's efforts were confined to long-distance shots which rarely troubled Hurst.

As the Merseysiders fought to get back into the game after the break, the Boro rearguard stood firm. David Bean dealt with everything down the middle with Simon Kelly and James Price providing excellent cover. Full backs Richard Battersby and Tony Whealing were solid in defence and always presented a threat as they constantly looked to push forward.

Marine's closest effort came when Jon Gautrey clipped the bar with a close-range effort, but Boro always looked capable of grabbing a second with their controlled passing and plenty of midfield and forward movement. Mark Dempsey dictated the play in midfield throughout with Simon Carden and Eamon Kelly ever willing to follow his non-stop example.

The killer goal came 20 minutes from time when, not for the first time, Borough carved open the Marine defence. A neat passing movement between Battersby and Carden released the latter and he unselfishly squared the ball for Neil Hardy to wrap the game up.

Marine were now totally dispirited and Dempsey and Lunt could have added further goals, whilst at the other end Hurst produced one final magnificent save in the last minute.

The final whistle saw Kevin Glendon's men march off with heads held high, and the resounding applause of the travelling faithful resounding in their ears.

BORO: Hurst 9, Battersby 8, Whealing 8; S. Kelly 8, Bean 8, Dempsey 9, Lunt 8, Carden 8, E. Kelly 8, Hardy 8, Price 8. Subs: Collins (for Hardy 89), Edwards (for E. Kelly 80), Callaghan, Farrelly.

Boro now face a trip to either Witton Albion or Burscough in the fourth qualifying round a week on Saturday and manager Kevin Glendon, who takes his side to Congleton tonight for a re-arranged league game, said: "I'm not too disappointed with the draw. It's the furthest we have got and maybe some people would have liked a more attractive draw, but it's one we could win to put us into the first round for the first time."