First Team
Lancashire FA Challenge Trophy Tue 21 January Brian Boys Stadium
Bacup Borough
2
Radcliffe
0
2-0

A goal in each half for the hosts meant a heavily-changed Radcliffe team were defeated at the Brian Boys Stadium, but there were plenty of positives to take with valuable minutes gained for a large number of young players.

Nine changes were made to the eleven that claimed a point in league action at Needham Market on Saturday, with eight members of our U21 development team being given the nod amongst the starters and substitutes bench.

Possession alternated between the two sides in the first half whilst playing on a tricky surface as the rain came down in Bacup, Radcliffe had a few half chances in the opening exchanges, whilst the home side tried their luck on a couple of occasions with no success, before eventually taking the lead with 40 minutes on the clock.

A miscued clearance by Mateusz Hewelt allowed Malachi Clarke a simple tap in from close range, giving the Boro a one-goal deficit to overcome after a blunder at the back by the goalkeeper and his defence, who all misjudged the ball.

Tunde Owolabi rounded the goalkeeper and tapped into the back of the net on the 50-minute mark to seemingly level the terms, but the linesman raised a delayed offside flag to deny Radcliffe an equalising goal.

Amongst the action once again, Owolabi almost restored parity for a second time 17 minutes later after riding a challenge and working half a yard to pick his spot inside the box, the striker could only shoot high and wide of the target to brush a huge sigh of relief across the Bacup faithful.

Moments after a Radcliffe double change which saw Jamie McDonough and Jordan Hulme leave the field, Isaac Modi – who’d been electric throughout the match – darted down the right wing before playing inside to Owolabi for a big chance, he couldn’t keep his attempt down as the ball flew agonisingly over the bar.

Despite Radcliffe looking the more likely to net the game’s second goal, it was Bacup who wrapped up the result in their favour. Number nine Toby Wright received possession on the edge of the box before wriggling beyond his closest markers to open up an opportunity which he took in his stride, thumping into the far corner.

The remaining minutes weren’t enough for the Boro to complete an unlikely comeback, exiting the competition at the Quarter Final stage as Bacup Borough now advance to face Padiham.

Radcliffe return to M26 this weekend as we welcome Hereford to the Neuven Stadium in a return to league action – buy your tickets online here and show your support for the boys in blue!