RADCLIFFE BORO 2, STALYBRIDGE CELTIC 0: Promotion and relegation issues are not settled in pre-season, but Boro certainly look like they are in good shape for chasing the former, and not dodging the latter, after this clash with Stalybridge Celtic.

Observers would have been hard pressed to guess which side had finished in the bottom echelons of UniBond Premier League, and which team had finished in the top ten of the Conference North.

Such was Boro's dominance in this game, they looked the team from a higher division as goals from Stephen Rose and Ryan Fisher sealed a comprehensive victory.

Boro's new-look front pairing of Tony Evans and Kieran Lugsden looked to have the makings of a good partnership, and they twice went close with efforts before Boro took the lead in the 15th minute.

Lee Duffy was causing Celtic all sorts of problems down the right, and it was he who won the corner that Andy Heald crossed into the box for Rose to drill home.

Danny Hurst was rarely troubled as Boro dominated all over the park, and Lugsden watched a 36th minute shot roll agonisingly wide after Evans had played in a neat ball that split the Celtic defence wide open.

The second half followed much the same pattern, with Scott Wilson and substitute Pat McFadden going close before Fisher got the goal his play deserved.

Fisher had already hit the post with a rasping shot when he put his side 2-0 ahead. The powerful full-back was picked out by Duffy, and the former Great Harwood Town man rifled home from fully 25 yards.

Boro closed out the game with imposing authority, and manager Andy Johnston was thrilled with the performance of his charges: "I am very pleased with the performance the lads put in. The football we played was very good and we created a number of chances by playing football. The work ethic was also pleasing and the tempo of our play was just right."

Boro: Hurst, Duffy, Fisher, Kelly, Kearney, Wilson, Eames, Rose (Kenny), Heald (Scott), Lugsden (McFadden), Evans (Miller).