RADCLIFFE Borough manager Paul McGuire believes this weekend's gap in the fixture list has come just at the right time for his beleaguered young side.

Boro have lost six of the eight matches they have played in November, with FA Cup heroes Warrington Town following up their recent 3-0 win at Stainton Park in the Doodson Cup with victory by the same scoreline in the league last Saturday.

McGuire's inexperienced side showed great spirit, however, to bounce back from that defeat to see off North West Counties minnows Oldham Boro 1-0 in the Manchester Premier Cup quarter-finals on Tuesday night.

The Boro boss will not get the chance to build on that victory this weekend, with intended opponents Spennymoor Town otherwise engaged in the FA Trophy.

But McGuire has welcomed the break.

"When Kevin (Glendon) first invited me to work with the club last year it was to help improve the players' fitness," he said.

"We managed to get them in great shape and it really had an impact in our finish to the season, as we picked up some great results and ended the campaign strongly.

"But that side of things has somehow taken a back seat this season.

"We have had so many games, playing Tuesday-Saturday pretty much from the off, so that is all we have been able to concentrate on.

"It will be good to get the lads into training tonight, when we will look at their fitness and then have another good session on Saturday.

"Hopefully, with the midweek matches tailing off a bit now as well, these sessions might have a positive impact on their performances, like they did last season."

McGuire is also looking forward to taking stock before what he accepts will be a very challenging run of six games in December that includes matches against the current top four teams in Evo Stik Division One North.

"I think next up is Droylsden (fourth) a week on Saturday, then we have Warrington Town at home before Northwich Victoria (second), Darlington (top) and Salford City (third) over Christmas," said the Boro manager.

"Whichever way you look at it that is going to be a very difficult month.

"What is important for us is that we do the best we can and try to come through it together as a group so when the more winnable games come around we are ready."

McGuire wants to protect against further knocks to his young players' fragile confidence after seeing their heads dip in the defeat to Warrington.

"We were well in that match up until a crazy seven minute spell at the start of the second half," he said.

"I thought their heads dropped after conceding the first goal, which is something I have not seen before.

"You can get that with young players, but they showed their character to come back on Tuesday night to make it into the last four of the Manchester Cup."