RADCLIFFE Borough boss Paul McGuire believes solidarity is the key to his side's long-term league ambitions as the Stainton Park men begin a difficult run of away fixtures on Saturday.

Following their impressive 5-3 victory over second-placed Droylsden last weekend, the disappointed boss felt his team deserved at least a point from Saturday's 2-0 home defeat against Evo-Stik First Division North leaders Northwich Victoria on Saturday.

Now McGuire believes his players must continue to stick together as they look to build on their 17th position in the league and avoid slipping too close to the relegation zone with trips to Darlington on Saturday, Salford on Boxing Day and Ossett Albion on December 28.

"They are three tough away games and it's going to be difficult. We have to stick together as a team and get through it," he said.

"If we could get three points from those games I would be happy.

"Darlington is a difficult place to go. They have a big fan base but I think some of our lads might even play better in that kind of challenging environment.

"They have a big imposing team and will come at us so we will need to be a bit more solid and perhaps shore things up in midfield a bit more.

"We've got a bunch of young enthusiastic lads who are a bit too keen at the start of games. We've just got to stick in the game and perhaps be a bit more sensible and patient and not give too much away," said McGuire.

The Stainton Park boss again played four strikers in his starting line-up against high-flying Northwich but the four-pronged attack of Elliott Rokka, were unable to stop the Boro from crashing to their ninth league defeat of the season. However, McGuire believes his side were unlucky not to take a draw from the game.

"We thought they would come and try and tear us apart but that never materialised," he said.

"We weren't overly impressed by them. We've been tested much more by some of the bottom sides.

"We had most of the play but we were not great going forward, we didn't create too many chances but our goalkeeper also had very little to do.

"They didn't create many chances and I was gutted that we did not to take any points from the game," said McGuire.

However, the Boro boss was left to rue an injury to left-back Danny Lambert and the 90th minute sending off of new signing Ashford Blake.

"Ash is a strong powerful lad, a bit of a handful," he said.

"He burst through and caught the defender. It wasn't an aggressive tackle but I think it deserved a red. It's a shame because we'll miss him for three matches now.

"It was disappointing not to be able to play Lambo. He was feeling his calf in the warm-up so we had to bring in young Mitchell Clayton in defence against Northwich. We are hoping he will be fit for Darlington," said McGuire.