THE chickens are coming home to roost towards the end of what has been a long hard season for Boro.

The Yorkshiremen thoroughly deserved their win on Saturday as jaded Radcliffe struggled to shake off the after effects of their Lancashire Co-Operative Challenge Cup final defeat to Skelmersdale the previous Tuesday night.

Director of football Gerry Luczka’’s threadbare squad could do little to trouble Wakefield and neither keeper had been troubled much before the visitors took the lead 21 minutes when confusion reigned between left back Owen Roberts and Tom Brooks which allowed Caldon Henson to cross into the box for Chris Howarth to head in the opener.

The strike left Boro keeper Phil Priestley cursing his luck. He initially parried the shot, but it unluckily bounced off his body into the net.

With striker Steve Howson playing as a makeshift centre back it was difficult to see how the hosts were going to get any joy in the penalty area.

But it was from Howson’s deep cross from the right which found Michael Oates unmarked, but he headed too close to Wakefield keeper Andy Woods who made the save.

In the second half, Wakefield continued where they left off. Wes Milnes headed a far post corner back across goal but James Dudgeon hooked the ball over the bar from a difficult position six yards out.

The second goal arrived on 66 minutes when a superb through ball from Adam Jones found Tom Denton who calmly turned inside before slotting the ball past Priestley.

Howarth could also have added further goals, his best chance coming when he raced clear of the defence but he did not get a shot away in time and Priestley was able to gather.

Boro were missing Mark Drew, Mark Jones and the now departed Craig Dawson and it would be harsh to criticise the Stainton Park side given their lack of numbers in their squad.

Luczka had no complaints following the disappointing defeat.

He said: “Wakefield deserved their win. We never really competed and we looked a very jaded team both physically and mentally.

“We were second best all over the park and we didn’t create possibly more than a couple of opportunities which is unlike us.

“It was the total opposite of what we have been producing, but our lack of resources has caught up with us as it also did against Skelmersdale and in the previous league match at Colwyn Bay.”

Luczka now faces the task of lifting his men for the trip to Clitheroe tomorrow (kick off 3pm).

He added: “We have to keep going. It is the only way and we won’t be feeling sorry for ourselves.

“We know what we have todo and we will try to focus on that. We will stick together as a group as we have done recently.”