RADCLIFFE Borough boss Paul McGuire praised his frontline after the Stainton Park men inflicted a shock defeat on fourth-placed Droylsden on Saturday.

McGuire’s decision to play four strikers in his starting line-up proved to be the difference with all four forwards – Elliott Rokka, Bevan Burey, Chris Mason and Sam Cook – finding the net in the 5-3 home victory.

The four-pronged attack helped lift Boro to 17th place in the Evo-Stik First Division North table, seven points above the relegation zone following their fourth league win of the season.

“We were due a win. We knew at some point a team was going to suffer from us and Saturday was the day,” said McGuire.

“It was an unbelievable game, the forwards were in fine form. Five goals didn’t flatter us at all, we could have had seven or eight.

Cook, who scored his first Boro goal in the win, and Mason played out wide while man-of-the-match Rokka and Burey started up front.

“All four chipped in with goals which was fantastic,” McGuire added.

The Stainton Park outfit, who face leaders Northwich Victoria at home on Saturday, also have daunting away fixtures at second-placed Darlington and third-placed Salford City in the next two weeks. But having seen his side’s performance against Droylsden, a confident McGuire believes his squad are more than capable of claiming points from the big three.

“The Droylsden win has given us a big boost in confidence. On our day we can match anybody. If we can pick up three or four points across this period I’d be thrilled,” he said.

Boro’s match with Warrington Town on Tuesday night was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch at Stainton Park and McGuire expressed his team’s disappointment at the decision to cancel the fixture.

“The lads are in really good spirits and wanted to play. There’s a real buzz around the dressing room right now,” he said.

McGuire’s next problem is keeping his squad happy as competition for places hots up, with Prestwich FC forward Ash Blake also joining the club this week.

“Everyone’s in fine form so competition is pretty fierce and Blake, who came on as a sub on Saturday, has really impressed me,” he said.