RADCLIFFE Borough assistant manager Paul McGuire wants the team to end the season on a high after securing Evo-Stik Division One North safety.

Boro beat bottom-club Ossett Albion 2-1 on Saturday – a third win in four games courtesy of James Mullineux’s double – to end any relegation fears.

Now McGuire and boss Kevin Glendon want to finish with a flourish in the final three matches and set the tone for what they hope will be a season challenging at the top next year.

Their recent form certainly bodes well with just three defeats in their last 10 outings.

McGuire said: “Since I joined in January, we have only lost four and two of those were against Darlington, who are second. The recent run has been perfectly-timed and we are safe now.

“I was confident we could win on Saturday and we were expected to against the side at the bottom. But the lads excelled themselves and were fantastic to make it six points in a week.

“Our recent form shows what we are capable of and we have high hopes for next season.

“We have had a settled side of late and if we can keep this squad together and maybe add two or three new faces in the summer, there is no reason why we can’t be up there.

"Not only do we have a good squad of players but they have shown their character in these last few weeks.”

With three games to play, Borough are nine points clear of second-bottom Wakefield with a goal difference 23 better off.

They host high-flying Bamber Bridge at Stainton Park on Saturday before a trip to Burscough on Easter Monday.

And McGuire says the home clash will be a good gauge of how far they have come against one of the division’s better sides, who beat them 4-0 in the reverse fixture in August, despite Bamber Bridge’s surprise 4-0 defeat at Northwich Victoria on Tuesday.

It is also a chance to freshen up the team and rotate the squad ahead of two matches in three days.

McGuire added: “We have had four or five who have been on the bench for a few games and travelled to Ossett with us.

"Now we are safe it is a chance to give them a game.

"We can mix it up a bit with two games over Easter and it’s a chance to look at those lads as we look to the summer.

“Bamber Bridge have been playing well, so it will be good for us to see where we are in terms of the teams at the top. I firmly believe we can be one of those next season.”