RADCLIFFE Borough are still searching for their first away win of the season after crashing to a 2-1 defeat at bottom side Padiham on Saturday.

In a must-win game against their fellow strugglers, the Stainton Park men now find themselves just six points clear of a relegation spot in Evo-Stik Division One North.

It was the home side who opened the scoring after just two minutes when Haley’s cross from the right was met unchallenged by Bobby Langford who easily headed the ball past Boro goalkeeper Chris Cheetham.

Boro did carve out a number of opportunities to get back into the game with Danny Lambert's shot beating the keeper but going wide of the post on 30 minutes, and a Sam Cook effort from 10 yards also going wide of goal.

A last-ditch tackle from Lambert on 41 minutes denied Langford from extending Padiham's lead before Ashford Blake should have levelled the scores on the stroke of half time but poor control from the forward saw the ball fall kindly for Dalton in the Padiham goal.

Boro started the second half well but were unable to capitalise on their chances with Blake, Elliott Rokka, Cook and Lambert all failing to score before Padiham doubled their lead on 57 minutes.

Boro defender Alec Mudimu failed to clear a dangerous ball and Langford crossed the ball to Sharples who drilled the ball into the top right-hand corner of the net past a helpless Cheetham.

Boro pushed forward with substitute Chris Mason's headed effort failing to hit the target before Cook met Mason’s cross to reduce the deficit with 15 minutes remaining but the visitors, who have now gone eight games without a win, were unable to find the equaliser.

North West Counties results: Eccleshall 1 Atherton Collieries 3, Daisy Hill 2 Rochdale Town 1, Atherton LR v Oldham Boro (match postponed).