MOSSLEY 0 RADCLIFFE BOROUGH 2: Boro booked a home Manchester Premier Cup semi-final date with Maine Road after this comfortable win over Unibond First Division side Mossley at Seel Park.

Phil Denney replaced suspended leading scorer Steve Foster, while Mike Wilkinson came in for the cup-tied Ciaran Kilheeney to form a new strike partnership.

The Seel Park pitch, was playable but heavy, didn't prevent Boro turning in a top class performance to leave the home side well and truly beaten.

As early as the first minute Boro gave notice of their attacking intentions with a sweeping move resulting in full-back Lee Duffys goal-bound effort being blocked.

Mossley then forced a couple of early corners which Danny Hurst was grateful to punch clear, and when Mario Daniel threatened Paul McGuire was well placed to clear at the expense of a corner.

Boro produced some slick passing with Scott Wilson at the hub of things, while Martyn Forrest, Richard Battersby and Gary Sampson were all eager to get forward from midfield.

Duffy as usual provided the width down the right, but Boro couldnt find the telling final ball to open up the home defence.

Mossley's Leon Mike showed his experience on the ball and forced Hurst to save low to his left, while former Boro man Barry Hart had a 25-yarder deflected over the bar with Hurst looking on anxiously.

However, it was Boro who looked the more creative without really testing Matt Taylor in the home goal.

Sampson took it upon himself to produce a series of shots on goal without finding the target, and Battersby fired just wide following a fine five-man move.

Rhodri Giggs showed glimpses of trickery for the hosts but found Simon Kelly, Steve Hill and McGuire a solid defensive unit that gave nothing away.

Boro did, however, have a narrow escape when Mike's header was cleared off the line by Duffy, and Adam Morning's follow-up effort cleared the bar.

After the break Boro emerged with a more direct approach and Denney turned well and shot over the bar in the 47th minute.

Boro then had a penalty claim turned down before they eventually opened the scoring in the 51st minute.

Denney cleverly headed a long ball into the path of the Forrest who opened his Boro account with a crisp low drive into the bottom corner from 25 yards.

This stung Mossley into action and Mike, Anthony Jordan and Daniel all had unsuccessful attempts on goal.

Wilkinson made way for Leon Grandison in the 61st minute and the youngster made an immediate impact with his pace and aggressive running.

Twice in a matter of minutes he was brought down on the edge of the box, and first Forrest and then Battersby rattled the bar from the resultant free kicks.

The deserved second goal came on 78 minutes when Grandison timed his run perfectly to collect Dennys flick-on and arrow an angled drive past the advancing keeper.

Boro were by this point well and truly in control, passing the ball about freely and Rob Massey was introduced for the last 14 minutes.

He slotted in well and combined with Grandison whose shot was well held by Taylor.

Wilson twice went close to notching a deserved goal, but it remained a 2-0 scoreline that puts Boro within 90 minutes of a cup final appearance.

BORO: Hurst, Duffy Hill, Kelly, McGuire, Sampson, Battersby, Wilson, Denney, Wilkinson, Forrest. Subs: George, Crowther, Massey (for Sampson, 77), Grandison (for Wilkinson, 61), C. McMahon.

JOHN KNOTT