Radcliffe Boro 0, Altrincham 1 RADCLIFFE Boro's relegation blues worsened last night by a single goal home defeat by Altrincham.

A crowd of 333 saw the visitors to Stainton Park settle the game with the only goal after just five minutes.

Jason Astley had a disastrous start for Boro and for the third time in succession he inexplicably gave the ball away and Altrincham broke quickly down the left.

Stuart Terry got to the by-line and chipped the ball across. Boro keeper Steve Berryman finger-tipped the ball away only to see Jamie Taylor follow up and lash in what proved to be the winner.

The delightfully-named Nathan Comley-Excel hit the post with a pile driver and on three occasions Berryman produced good saves to keep the visitors at bay.

Gradually Radcliffe grabbed more of the action and came close to an equaliser just before half time when heavy pressure saw defender France relieved when his header rebounded off his own post and back into play.

Tony Carroll, Ian Lunt and Paul Lyons all went close and a Mike Farrelly header was cleared off the line.

But luck appears to have deserted Radcliffe and the relegation situation is now desperate.

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