Radcliffe Borough boss Paul McGuire believes he is now building a squad good enough to finish in the top 10 of the Evo-Stik Division One North.

Trialists Keith Wedge, Michael McGinlay and Robbie Bromley have all made a positive impression on the Stainton Park boss since their arrival during the pre-season campaign, and McGuire is confident the club can push on from last year’s 18th-place finish.

“I think it’s a very competitive league this year, he said.

“There are at least six big teams in there and we’ve just got to make sure we are the best of the rest.

“We are aiming for a top 10 place. I believe we are building a squad good enough to do that. If we could get into the top half of the table it would be a huge achievement for us.”

Radcliffe kick off their campaign with a trip to newly-promoted Northern Counties East League Premier Division winners Brighouse Town on Saturday, August 16, before hosting Prescot Cables three days later.

McGuire said: “The opening fixtures have been relatively kind to us. I don’t think we would have liked to have started with tough fixtures against Salford, Darlington or Droylsden.

“Brighouse is a bit of unknown really. Having been promoted they will want to carry on their winning run into the new league.

“I think we’ve got some early winnable games. I’m pretty happy with the first six to 10 matches and I think we’ll pick up some points.

McGuire, who is looking at adding a number of new faces to the squad, is particularly keen to keep hold of trialists Wedge, McGinlay and Bromley after impressive displays against Winton and Vauxhall Motors.

“They are the three players so far that have done really well and the ones that we’d like to keep,” he said.

“Players like Keith and Michael give us that experience and knowhow in the team, which is what we need.

“We are hoping to add five or six new players to the squad by the start of the new season, that is the plan.

“Keith is solid and has looked competent. He’s an experienced player, a bit of an older head, and he has a calming influence on the rest of the team.”

Central midfielder Bromley, on trial from Fleetwood, scored after coming on as a substitute against Vauxhall, while striker McGinlay has also caught the boss’s eye.

“Michael is a target man and he brings other players into the game. Hopefully he can bag a few goals for us.”

Boro host Huddersfield Town u21s tomorrow evening, kick off 7pm.

**Goals from Elliot Rokka, Bevan Burey and triallist Robbie Bromley secured a 3-0 victory for Radcliffe Borough at Vauxhall Motors last week.
Rokka scored the opening goal from a corner early on, curling his shot past the goalkeeper and into the far corner after good link-up play with Shaun Grimshaw. Burey’s powerful run-and-shot increased the Boro’s lead after the break, before substitute Bromley got his first goal for the club.
Boro host Huddersfield Town u21s tomorrow evening, kick off 7pm.