RADCLIFFE Borough assistant manager Paul McGuire has warned his side’s relegation rivals not to get too cosy after the Stainton Park outfit stretched their unbeaten run to four matches this week.

Boro remain 20th in Evo-Stik Division One North – one place and one point above Wakefield in the drop zone.

But after following up a 1-0 win at 17th-placed Padiham on Saturday with a gutsy 2-2 draw at home to Prescot Cables, who are 18th, on Tuesday night, McGuire believes his side are bang in form.

And with Wakefield also winning on Tuesday night, Robert Boardman scoring both goals in a 2-0 victory over Salford City, the Boro coach is adamant the battle to beat the drop is far from a two-horse race.

“For me, Wakefield have one of the best strikers in the division (in Boardman), so I don’t think you can rule out their chances of getting out of trouble,” he said.

“They may only have six games left, compared to our nine, but, like us, they have to play a lot of the teams down there with us.

“So I don’t think Padiham, Prescot Cables or New Mills, who are in 19th place, are safe yet.”

McGuire admits he was disappointed not to get more out of Tuesday’s match at home to Prescot after taking the lead through a Chris Thompson strike.

Victory would have seen them leapfrog the side which has former Boro favourite Nick Culkin in goal.

But they showed great spirit to at least claim a point after Sam Grimshaw fired in an 85th-minute equaliser, just a minute after the visitors had taken the lead.

“It looked as if the writing was on the wall when they scored, but the lads proved their character by not letting their heads drop,” said McGuire. “But we continued this little unbeaten run we are on and you have to take the positives from that into the next game.”

That will be at home to play-off contenders Lancaster City, before Boro travel to 10th-placed Cammell Laird on Tuesday.

Both matches represent an opportunity for Boro to put a bit of daylight between themselves and Wakefield, who do not play until Wednesday.

“That is the goal, but you can’t escape the fact they are both tough matches,” said McGuire.

“I must admit I could think of easier teams to play our game in hand against than Lancaster, but that is the challenge before us and I think we are equal to it.

“Mark Ayres will be back from suspension for the match and, for the first time in a while, we have good competition for places.”

l Former Manchester United and Oldham Athletic striker, Andy Ritchie, will be hosting a Q&A night at the Legends Lounge at Stainton Park on Friday, March 28. Tickets cost £5 and includes pie and peas. For tickets telephone 0161 724 8346 or email rbfc@hotmail.co.uk.