JON Macken has warned his Radcliffe players they will have to deal with being one of the teams to beat.

A perfect record of seven straight victories came to an end with a league draw at Newcastle Town on Saturday and a penalty-shootout defeat in the League Cup on Tuesday night.

Boro are top of the EvoStik West division and in the second qualifying round of the FA Cup in which they play Curzon Ashton at home on Saturday.

A victory at Skelmersdale United (2-1) last Wednesday night and the weekend 1-1 draw at Newcastle Town gave Macken's men a single-point gap at the top of the table.

The boss says other teams will see them as up there to be shot down and says that presents a challenge for his so-far hugely impressive players.

"We have the players to do well this season," said Macken, who is in his first full season as a football manager.

"We brought in some good players in the summer and we have prepared well for games right from pre-season.

"The players have done well but it is only going to get more difficult the more success you get because teams look at you differently."

Despite the impressive start Macken believes there is more to come from his side.

"Performance levels hopefully will improve because there are bits and bobs we can improve on," he said.

Match report: page 60.