RADCLIFFE Borough bounced back from defeat at basement club Burscough with a rousing 3-1 victory at promotion contenders Scarborough Athletic.

Raul Correia gave the visitors the perfect start, opening the scoring after only two minutes.

But Scarborough capitalised on some lax defending at a corner after the break to level through Cameron Murray.

The majority of the 400-strong crowd will have no doubt expected the equaliser to be used as a springboard.

And it was, but Boro were the team to respond, and after getting the bit between their teeth Frank van Gils provided the goals.

The young forward fired Bill Prendergast's men back in front 23 minutes from time then rounded off only a second away victory for the club with a third in stoppage time.

"It was as good a performance as the previous weekend's was bad," said the Boro boss, who felt moved to apologise for the Burscough performance in his notes in the last club programme.

"The journey up there did us some good as we were able to sort a few things out on the coach on the way up.

"And the lads responded. You could see they were on it and fired up from the opening whistle."

Corriea was quick to react when the ball landed at his feet in the box to smash home the opener.

And Boro took advantage of the slick surface to play some silky passing for the remainder of the half without being able to find a second goal.

Scarborough played their part in an end-to-end encounter, but the visitors did well to contain their threat and make it to the break a goal to the good.

They were caught cold, however, at the start of the second half, switching off at a corner before then being sold a dummy by Murray, who rolled home the equaliser.

Despite the obvious disappointment, Boro's heads did not drop, and they deservedly regained the lead on 67 minutes when Van Gils finished off a flowing passing move.

Scarborough were unable to get back into the game and Van Gils rubber-stamped the win in the final minute when he fired home from an acute angle.

"We couldn't actually see the final goal properly, it was from such a tight angle that we assumed it had hit the side netting before the players started to celebrate," said Prendergast.

"It was all the lads deserved, though.

"Scarborough played their part, they came at us and that helped us in a way. I also have to thank the groundsman, who provided a fantastic surface, which again helped out game, and their fans created a great atmosphere.

"It was just one of those days when everything clicked, you get those sometimes when the lads are on their game and focused.

"That's what we want every game, but it is illusive. I can't explain why it happens one week and not the next. If I could bottle it I would be a top manager."