First Team
National League North Tue 4 February Flamingo Land Stadium
Scarborough Athletic
  • Bennett (57')
  • Tear (37')
2
Radcliffe
0
2-0

Two goals for the hosts were enough to see off the Boro who entered the match having only been beaten once on the road in league action since October, but a lacklustre display meant Radcliffe couldn’t take advantage of other teams dropping points towards the bottom end of the table.

Bernard and Jonno named an unchanged starting eleven for only the fourth time this season. Regan Riley was named on the bench once again and would enter the pitch as a second-half substitute, gaining minutes for the first time since October following a lengthy injury.

Radcliffe dominated possession in the opening exchanges, managing to create a couple of decent chances before manufacturing a huge opportunity that was inches away from being taken.

On the 11-minute mark, Danny Greenfield’s floated cross found Jordan Hulme in space at the back post, the forward cut onto his right foot to curl towards the far corner of the net and his effort ricocheted off the inside of the post, before Scarborough swiftly cleared their lines.

The Seadogs defenders had to be alert once again moments later, as George Glendon and Josh Hancock linked up in the centre of the park and the latter delivered into the corridor of uncertainty after gaining space on the right, Kieran Weledji was well placed to thump the ball behind ahead of any oncoming blue shirts.

Scarborough began to grow into the game as the half continued, and Jonathan Greening’s side managed to score eight minutes before the break to lead at the interval. A corner from the right-hand side was delivered into an inviting area for Dom Tear to head home, scoring his fourth goal of the season against the Boro.

After 57 minutes, Lois Maynard was deemed to have handled Richie Bennett’s shot which left the referee no other choice but to point to the spot. The former Stockport County man stepped up to take responsibility, sliding coolly into the bottom right corner, sending Mateusz Hewelt the wrong way to give his team a two-goal cushion.

Minutes later, there were huge shouts for a penalty of their own in the Radcliffe camp as Hulme was brought to the ground under the challenge of Weledji whilst looking to find half a yard, but it wasn’t the shared opinion of referee Lee Bible who waved play on.

All five substitutes were introduced to the fray towards the back end of the half in an attempt to roll the dice and spur on an unlikely comeback, however Scarborough were more than comfortable to see out the game and did so right until the end of the four additional minutes at the end of the 90, before the referee blew the full-time whistle.

Radcliffe return to home soil this weekend as we look to go back to winning ways at the Neuven Stadium against Southport.

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