ABOU Sonogo reminded the Radcliffe Borough management just what he is capable of with an audacious penalty in their 2-1 Manchester Premier Cup defeat on Tuesday night.

The 21-year-old former Northwich Victoria striker was recalled to the team after missing the previous three matches and produced a moment of magic to put Boro in front, chipping the keeper with his spot kick.

Bill Prendergast's experimental side, which included a number of fringe players, were unable to hold on to their lead, conceding two in the second half, including a last-minute winner, to go out at the hands of Hallmark Security League Premier side West Didsbury and Chorlton.

But Sonogo's reappearance was a real highlight and the Boro boss admitted his young striker has the "genius" to make it at a much higher level.

"Abou is a long-term project," said Prendergast.

"The player, the management team and the chairman are all working together on it, but it will take time.

"We all love him to bits here, the fans adore him and there is no doubt he is blessed with a touch of genius.

"I believe he is capable of playing at a much higher level, but the key for me as his manager is how best to harness that talent and develop it for the good of the team.

"Abou knows that is something he has to work on, bringing a level of professionalism to his game.

"But you saw from the way he took that penalty just what he can do. Not too many players would have had the guts to take a penalty like that, but Abou did and that shows a little bit of what he is about."

Assistant manager Joe Gibbons took charge of the Boro team from the dugout on Tuesday as Prendergast watched the game from the stands.

His decision to get a different perspective followed a 2-1 defeat at Tadcaster Albion on Saturday in the Evo-Stik First Division North.

Josh Greening scored two first-half goals for the hosts before Frank Van Gils halved the deficit with a great strike.

Boro missed a host of half chances to equalise, and their fourth defeat of the campaign left them 14th in the table.

"We must have had 75 per cent of the possession at Tadcaster, they barely got out of their half after the break, but we were just missing that final bit," he said.

"It was just one of those days, sometimes at this level you are not rewarded for the football you play.

"Saying that, I have not been too concerned by our work with the ball this season, which in the main has been very good.

"I wanted to see what the fans see on Tuesday, get a different perspective, but it just confirmed what I suspected.

"At times we are like two different teams – one with the ball and one without it.

"It's our work without the ball that concerns me and the main thing we have to work on."

Boro will try to end their losing run at promotion chasers Clitheroe on Saturday.