FOUR goals in the opening 21 minutes ensured Radcliffe fell to their first defeat of the year.

Jon Macken’s Boro had started 2018 on the right foot, with a confidence-boosting 3-1 win at home to Ramsbottom United but when they hosted Glossop North End the visitors were able to seal victory before a quarter of the game had been played.

Two goals for Benjamin Deegan, the first as he reacted to a rebound and the second from a fiercely-struck free kick, made it 2-0 to the visitors by the 17th minute.

From just outside the box, Callum Chippendale hit North End’s third goal on 20 minutes and Glossop were given a helping hand by Boro’s Callum Grogan, whose own goal made it 4-0 a minute later, the player unfortunate to deflect a set-piece past his own goalkeeper.

After that shocking start, Radcliffe at least held out until the break.

In the second half they had a few attempts on goal but at the other end Brad Roscoe headed in number five.

Adam Jones completed the scoring for Glossop, who could have made the scoreline more emphatic but Chippendale saw a penalty saved late on.