RADCLIFFE FC took another positive stride in the league this week, despite suffering a cup setback.

Jon Macken's men moved up to 18th place in Evo-Stik North after twice coming from behind to claim a point in a 2-2 draw at third-placed Glossop North End on Saturday.

The promising result followed a good win at Kendal Town in the league, although they had suffered losses in the FA Trophy and Manchester Premier Cup since their last Evo-Stik outing.

However, any confidence gained from the away point will have been eroded by a 3-0 loss at Witton Albion in the Integro League Cup on Tuesday.

Macken is unlikely to lose too much sleep about his side's cup efforts, as long as they continue to show improvements in the league.

There was definitely evidence of that at Glossop, who tested Boro's resolve after Lewis Lacy put them in front on 10 minutes on Saturday with a close-range finish.

Lacy went close to doubling their lead when he seized on an under-hit back pass to round keeper Ryan Jones but Nathan Quirk blocked his effort on the line.

The visitors were enjoying plenty of possession, though, and Tom Owens made it count, smashing in the equaliser after an attempted clearance from a Callum Grogan header fell at his feet.

Grier fired over as Boro pressed for a second goal before the break, but Glossop responded well.

Jones pulled off a fine save to turn a 20-yard shot behind for a corner, but the hosts scored from the resulting set-piece when Courtney Meppen-Walter rose highest to plant a header into the top corner on the stroke of half time. 

It looked like the home side would increase their lead after the break but Meppen-Walter's penalty was well saved by Jones, and that proved a turning point.

Boro got their equaliser just after the hour. Nyle Ellis was played through and showed great pace to beat the Glossop right-back before setting up Grier for an easy finish with a low cross.

Macken's men will have taken great heart from the performance, but were unable to build on that at Witton, who are sixth in the Evo-Stik Premier.

Nick Ryan put Albion in front in the 18th minute with a shot from distance into the bottom corner, and it took a goal-line clearance from Steven Tames' header to stop the hosts from doubling their advantage before the break.

Carl Peers went close to a scoring an equaliser at the start of the second half when his volley went just wide, but the tie was virtually settled after 56 minutes when Paul Williams scored Witton's second from a free kick.

And Tom Owens rounded off the scoring for the hosts with six minutes to play.