QUICK-FIRE TREBLE SEE LEADERS PREVAIL
EIGHT minutes of Radcliffe first-half magic secured a return to winning ways against play-off chasing Marine, extending the gap atop the division to 15 points with 10 games left.
Having gone a goal behind, they trailed for just 11 minutes as Ewan Bange, Jordan Hulme and Willem Tomlinson sunk the Mariners’ hopes of taking points away from the Neuven Stadium before the half-time whistle had even blown.
After the visitors took an early lead through Owen Robinson’s third goal in four appearances, Radcliffe’s response was emphatic as they turned the contest around within minutes: a tap-in, setpiece and powerful strike undid the early work from Neil Young’s side, left to pick up the pieces and regroup.
Post-match, a disappointed Marine boss believed they lost the game based on defending set-pieces alone and felt a weather-enforced abandonment was inevitable, had rainfall arrived any earlier.
Those set-pieces came from the boots of well-travelled former professional Nicky Adams, whose accurate corner deliveries and freekicks caused chaos for the visitors.
The versatile midfielder found Hulme’s run for the second and put the ball on a plate for Matt Sargent in the second-half but the Welshman’s header flashed just wide.
On the stroke of half-time referee Abid Hussain pulled up injured, but luckily a qualified referee was among the 1,250-strong crowd and stood in for the second-half to perform when called upon.
Radcliffe’s co-manager Bernard Morley felt the rainfall ruined a good contest, though this could’ve been a different story entirely.
Finlay Sinclair-Smith’s moment of excellence 20 minutes from time gave Marine supporters hope of late drama, as debutant Owen Winsor played excellently after replacing an injured Sol Solomon and was a key figure in the build-up.
Under a barrage of long throws and deep through balls, the Boro backline stood strong and repelled the late pressure as the challenging conditions didn’t deter them.
Sinclair-Smith still had a chance to be the visitors’ stoppage-time hero and equalise in the dying embers, but could only sting Mateusz Hewelt’s gloves from a free-kick.
Willem Tomlinson (Radcliffe)