RADCLIFFE Borough manager Paul McGuire has set his team a target of 15 more points from their remaining 15 games to avoid relegation from Evo-Stik Division One North.

And the Stainton Park boss is confident the league strugglers can get the five victories required – despite a run of seven games without a win – starting with a tough trip to bottom side Padiham on Saturday.

“It’s a huge game. A classic six-pointer. We’ve got to go there and put on a good show,” he told Radcliffe Times.

“We still have a big cushion on Padiham. It will be difficult but no matter how we perform it will be tough for them too.

“These are the games we should be winning but I’d be happy with a point if we could regain some of our form.

“We are in a group of four or five teams at the bottom and we have to make sure we accrue more points than the others to stay in this league.

“I think we need to pick up another 15 points between now and the end of the season to keep us safe.

“It’s effectively five wins and I think we have the lads here to do it.”

With Boro losing influential midfielder Danny White to Glossop North End last week, McGuire was glad to welcome back forward Ash Blake from suspension and also gave debuts to new signings, midfielder Sam Fitzgerald from New Mills and on-loan Stalybridge Celtic centre-back Alec Mudimu, in the 3-1 home defeat to Brighouse Town last Saturday.

But despite the club’s 13th loss of the season which sees Boro languishing in 19th place, just six points above the drop zone, the Boro boss was pleased with his side’s overall performance on what he described as “the worst pitch he had seen at Radcliffe”.

“The pitch was really bad,” said McGuire.

“There was snow and ice on it before the match which melted and it was just like a pond.

“Considering the conditions, I thought the lads played well and looked a threat at times. The team shape was good, we got out wide and got crosses into the box.

“We freshened up the team. Fitzgerald was good on the ball and was probably our best player, while Mudimu was solid at the back and was a bit unlucky to get sent off.”