FOLLOWING a run of tough games against the top six sides in Evo-Stik Division One North, Radcliffe Borough boss Paul McGuire feels his side simply ran out of legs against Clitheroe on Saturday as they crashed to a 4-0 home defeat.

The Stainton Park outfit have been in impressive form in recent weeks securing hard-fought 2-2 draws against promotion-chasers Bamber Bridge and Darlington and a 5-3 victory over Droylsden, but McGuire believes Saturday's fixture was a game too far for his tired side after a busy festive period.

"I think those last four or five games against the bigger teams in the build up to, and over the festive period, has really taken its toll on us," he told the Radcliffe Times.

"The lads just looked very tired and flat. Their legs had gone.

"It was just one of those days where we just couldn't lay a glove on them. We were second to everything, we didn't win many headers or tackles. It was a very unlike us performance.

"They got the rub of the green with a goal from a deflected free kick early on and I just felt then that it wasn't going to be our day. We even missed a penalty late on which probably summed it up.

"Our lads never lack effort, heart or determination but they looked like they really had nothing left in the tank."

Despite the good performances over the past few weeks, the depth and size of Boro's squad showed against Clitheroe with McGuire admitting that has proved a problem in recent games.

"With injuries and suspensions we have looked stretched," he said.

"We couldn't change anything against Clitheroe as we had Danny White and Ashley Blake out suspended so we could only name two outfield subs.

"And there are tough times ahead because Richard Smith, who has been our best defender this season, got sent off on New Year's Day so he'll miss games as well now."

Boro, who slipped to 19th in the league following the lacklustre display, are now just eight points above the relegation places - a position McGuire is hoping his side can distance themselves from when they travel to promotion-hopefuls Farsley on Saturday.

"They are up there in the play-off positions so it will be a tough game," he said.

"Our away form is not the greatest but we've got to rest up and get ourselves into shape to hopefully get something out of the game because we need to.

"The teams around us, particularly New Mills, have picked up some good points recently and they've also got a couple of games on us.

"It's tight but we'll be doing our best not to be in that bottom two. We need to keep trying to grind out games and results."