Boro and LR suffer as Colls let it slip
9:20am Monday 23rd January 2012 in Headlines
RADCLIFFE Borough’s topsy-turvy run of form continued with a disappointing 4-1 defeat at Skelmersdale United.
New signing Andy Bell opened the scoring for Boro on 19 minutes before two goals each for United strikers Shaun Tuck and Josh Hine either side of the break dampened any hopes of a march up the table.
Benny Phillips’ men had high hopes going into the match after their last outing – a 3-2 win at home to Ossett Albion – moved them up to 14th in the Evo-Stik League Division One North.
But Saturday’s defeat saw them slip two places, while their opponents, who had only won once in their previous 11 games, moved up to fourth.
Ramsbottom United missed the chance to take the top spot in the North West Counties League Premier Division after their game at home to Silsden was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch.
There was further disappointment for Atherton LR, who failed to build on their 1-1 home draw to Padiham last week, shipping five goals at Alsager Town without reply.
It was the second 5-0 defeat in three matches for LR, who prop up the division, eight points from safety. Manager Phil Priestley will be hoping the signing of experienced centre forward Stuart Rudd and central midfielder Philip Crow will help to spark an unlikely escape act.
There was at least some cause for celebration for LR’s nearest neighbours, Atherton Collieries, who managed to play their first game since Boxing Day in the First Division.
Sadly for the Colls, they failed to build on a flying start at home to Eccleshall.
After going 2- 0 up inside the first five minutes through goals from Joe Fielding and Gary Burnett, their midtable opponents pulled one back through Mark Hall on 17 minutes before Ryan Miszkiel popped up with the equaliser in the last minute. The result sees Colls drop two places to seventh, one above Daisy Hill, who lost a hastily-arranged encounter at Rochdale Town 3-2.
Craig Thomas’ men were due to be playing at Northwich Villa, but the game was cancelled after the Cheshire side’s ground, which they share with Northwich Victoria, was sold by administrators and the two club’s were handed an eviction order.
The switch in fixtures was confirmed on Thursday night, giving both managers little time to prepare.
Yet the two sides, who started the match level on 27 points, put on an exciting spectacle.
The home side broke the deadlock five minutes after the break and doubled their lead on 60 minutes, before Daisy Hill sub Sam Howells started a spirited comeback.
Lee Scanlon’s 35-yard thunderbolt brought the two sides level with 10 minutes remaining, but Rochdale, who were reduced to 10-men soon after the equaliser, stole all three points with a last minute winner.
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