RADCLIFFE FC boss Joe Gibbons reckons Burscough’s late FA Cup equaliser at the weekend could have been a blessing in disguise after they produced a season’s best display to win Tuesday’s replay 3-0.

Boro set up a first qualifying-round tie at Evo-Stik Premier side Shaw Lane after goals from Callum Grogan, Stavros Tserdes and a fourth in four games from Kurt Sherlock finally saw off their Hallmark Security League opponents.

It was their first win of the season after drawing Saturday’s FA Cup opener 1-1 and kicking off their Evo-Stik North campaign with two defeats. And while Gibbons admits their start has been a slow-burner, he saw signs in their midweek win that the new-look side was beginning to click into gear.

“Don’t get me wrong, I was disappointed to lose that late goal in the first match against Burscough, but all’s well that ends well and I think the extra match might have done us some good,” he said. “It is never easy to build a side from scratch and it was always going to take time for players to gel.

“There were signs of it coming together in the first match against Burscough and it was good we had another game so quickly to keep that momentum going.”

The matches keep coming thick and fast this bank holiday weekend, with Kendal Town visiting the Neuven Stadium on Saturday before Boro make the short trip to take on local rivals Ramsbottom United on Monday.

Gibbons added: “I expect my players to give 100 per cent every match, so for me the derby is no different, but we know it is special for the fans and hope to give them something to cheer about.”