THIS summer's pre-season performances have brought an air of positivity to Radcliffe Borough.

Boro boss Bill Prendergast oversaw a 3-1 win at home to Runcorn Linnets on Saturday and, while he says results do not matter at this time of year, his players' performances are offering much to be excited about.

Saturday's win, courtesy of goals by Elliot Rokka, Alex Ahmed and Abou Sonogo, came despite strong periods from the visitors, but it is the manner of victory that most pleased Prendergast.

"Pre-season is going to plan," he said. "I was not downhearted by a 6-0 defeat to Bolton in the earlier game because we need to be challenged in pre-season, I would rather us lose 6-0 in friendlies and iron out what needs to be done.

"We are focusing on our "front-foot" football, rather than on results at this stage, if we do that the results will look after themselves.

"We beat Runcorn but there is no way we will be saying everything about us is perfect because of that. I was pleased with how we performed, when they pulled it back to 1-1 we were under pressure and reacted well."

Prendergast's youthful squad take on Stalybridge Celtic tonight (7.45pm) in their third friendly of the summer and, while they have a free weekend due to Saturday's match against CMB being cancelled, busy Boro will host a Rochdale XI on Tuesday and a Bury XI on Friday, with full-on training sessions scheduled the day after both matches.

"I would say we are in front of where we had expected the players to be at this stage of pre-season," said Prendergast, who took over at Taurus Park in May. "They are fit and getting better and we have a big week ahead, I'm looking forward to having them in and working them hard in preparation."

Part of that preparation will centre on defending at set pieces, something which has disappointed the former Crewe academy director, who insists his squad – new recruits and all – will be ready, willing and able when the Evo-Stik First Division North campaign kicks off at Brighouse Town on August 13.

"We need to move the ball quickly and we need to be organised at defending set pieces," he revealed. "We have got better in that respect but we will be back on the training ground working hard to run through it a lot more.

"We have the opportunity to make sure we have everything right on the organisational front. If we concede from set pieces I would rather it was by a piece of brilliant skill from an opponent than by being poorly organised.

"Players have come in and, by and large, have wanted to stay. Those that aren't still here didn't want to buy into our philosophy so if they didn't want to stay and work with us perhaps they weren't the type of player we need. Some people don't like doing the hard work but we are positive about what we have been doing to develop our squad in pre-season.

"The club has made great leaps and bounds. It hasn't been easy but the atmosphere around the place is palpably positive."