RADCLIFFE Borough slipped closer to the relegation dogfight after failing to take their chances in a 2-0 defeat at home to promotion chasers Mossley.

Danny Johnson's side ended the day just six points above the drop zone in Evo-Stik Division One North with five games of the season remaining – all against teams in the top half of the table.

Their plight was not helped by the late withdrawal through illness of Danny Lambert, while Ric Smith was suspended and both Steve Foster and Sam McMahon were missing through injury.

Johnson worked hard to draft in three new recruits, giving debuts to Matthew Knowles and Daniel McLoughlin, both signed from Droylsden, and Omar McKenzie, from Bacup.

But the visitors got off to a faster start, Matthew Purcell slotting home in only the seventh minute.

Boro's Matthew Davies missed the target with a couple of first-half chances while Danny Lafferty headed wide from a corner.

Former Stainton Park favourite Caldon Henson almost scored for Mossley after the break.

The home side hung in, however, only to concede a second, decisive goal from John Bennett with 12 minutes to play.

Boro's next match is not until an away game at Ossett Town on April 4 before the visit of league leaders Salford City on Easter Monday.

Radcliffe Borough team: Cheetham, Brown (Beadle), Woods, Lafferty (capt), McGrath, Jackson, Hindle (Rokka), Knowles (Burey), McLoughlin, Davies, McKenzie. Not used: Landregan, Sherlock.