Match Report: Radcliffe FC 3-1 Scarborough Athletic

Radcliffe FC left it late to move into 12th in the Northern Premier table after battling to a 3-1 win against Scarborough Athletic.

An early first half goal from Liam Ellis gave Boro the perfect start before Athletic equalised close to half time through James Walshaw.

Two goals in the second half ensured the home team left with all 3 points. Kingsley Williams capitalised on a defensive mixup to give his side the lead and Ben Wharton sealed the win with a late penalty.

The result means that Radcliffe moved into 12th position in the Northern Premier on 20 points, just a couple of points outside the play off places. The win also meant that Jon Mackens side are the form team in the division at the moment. This was the teams 5th win in 6 games, meaning they also top the form table.

In a real high tempo start to the game from both teams, Boro looked to grab the initiative and took an early lead in the 5th minute. A free kick was floated towards the Scarborough penalty area, the ball was flicked on by Harry Winter into the path of Ellis. Ellis then took a touch and rifled his shot past Thomas Taylor in goal for the visitors to make it 1-0.

The Seadogs looked to hit back after the early goal and almost found a breakthrough shortly afterwards. A low cross was sent into the box and Williams looked to clear the ball away. He sliced his clearance backwards towards his own goal and the ball skimmed off the crossbar, a huge let off for the home team.

As the rain started to fall, the game became fragmented with tackles flying in from both sides. Scarborough looked to impose there will on the home team and began to carve out chances. A free kick was floated into the box by Chris Dawson and Issac Assenso looked to head the ball towards goal, Ollie Martin made a smart save to tip the ball over. Then another ball into the box was clawed away by Martin. The ball fell into the path of Scarborough captain Michael Coulson. He took a touch and drilled a shot towards goal, but Martin made another great save.

The equaliser came moments later for the away team in the 39th minute.. Kian Spence attacked down the right hand side and fed the ball into Walshaw inside the box. He then cut inside and looked to curl the ball into the bottom right hand corner from a tight angle. The ball found its way into the net to even the scores at 1-1.

Boro looked to regroup at half time after conceding so close to the half, and found themselves infront shortly after the interval. In the 53rd minute Williams put his side back ahead. A long ball was played over the top into the path of Tyrese Sinclair, goalkeeper Taylor looked to come for the ball, however a defensive mix up saw him take out both Sinclair and his own man Assenso at the same time. This meant the ball fell to Williams to calmly slot the ball into an empty net to make the score 2-1.

The chances continued to come for the home team who were smelling blood. First, Prince Haywood clipped a free kick to the backpost for Rick Smith, he then headed the ball across goal by Matt Hughes couldn’t direct his header towards goal. Ellis then whipped a cross in from the left hand side that went agonisingly wide of the opposition goal. Ellis again had another chance to put the game to bed, when second half substitute Matthew Wolfenden burst through on goal down the right hand side. He then flashed a ball across goal but Ellis smashed his finish over the bar.

Radcliffe eventually found the goal to wrap up all 3 points in injury time of the 2nd half. Another second half substitute Tom Brown played a delightful throughball to the advancing Haywood. Haywood then dribbled into the box and was taken down by a Scarborough defender. Wharton, who himself came on early in the half from the bench, stepped up to take the penalty and calmly finished to give his side the win.

In the end the result looked fairly comprehensive, but it was a tough battle from both sides, Macken will be happy with how his team more than matched the physicality of the opposition. The team now has a tough test of playing 3 of the next 4 games away from home, first up is a trip to Mickleover Sports next weekend.