By Adam Harrison

RADCLIFFE slumped to a third straight defeat as Scarborough Athletic edged an even contest at the Neuven Stadium 3-1.

Radcliffe took the lead through Kingsley Williams but Nathan Valentine levelled almost instantly and the visitors added two in the second half through Michael Coulson and James Walshaw.

The Boro kept the Seadogs at bay for long periods but their quality shone through in the end as they moved to within a point of automatic promotion while Radcliffe have slipped to 20th.

Williams’ opener came 16 minutes in, as the captain pounced to slot in after Thomas Taylor spilled a shot from James Hooper.

Just three minutes later former Boro player Valentine levelled as he was first to a loose ball in the box.

The rest of the half, and most of the second period, continued in an evenly-balanced fashion, Williams blazing Boro’s best chance of a second goal over the bar.

But it was the visitors who took the lead on 67 minutes, Coulson producing a smart finish to lift the ball over Boro keeper Connor Keane.

Victory was sealed on 74 minutes as Walshaw fired a whipped-in corner into the roof of the net.

Jon Macken’s side continued to push on but there was not enough time to stage a comeback.