RADCLIFFE FC's difficult start to the season continued this week with a 3-1 FA Cup defeat at Shaw Lane and a 4-1 loss at Hyde United in the Evo-Stik North.

In both matches, Joe Gibbons' men equalised after conceding early goals but were unable to kick on from that.

Chib Chilaka pounced on a goalkeeping error to put Evo-Stik Premier side Shaw Lane in front in the 10th minute of their first qualifying-round tie.

But Radcliffe's luck changed dramatically 10 minutes later when they were awarded a penalty and the hosts' goalkeeper Jon Stewart was sent off for a foul on Dimitri Nkusu.

Tom Owns converted the spot kick, but Boro were unable to capitalise on the man advantage.

Chilaka headed in his second goal to put Shaw Lane back in front in the 25th minute and David Norris made the most of a mix-up in the box to make it 3-1 before the break and effectively ended the tie as a contest.

Tuesday night's match at Hyde went much the same way.

Matthew Beadle headed the hosts in front in the fourth minute before Brendan Glackin curled in an equaliser 10 minutes later.

Yet again they were unable to use that as a launchpad.

Luke Porritt, who set up Hyde's opener, scored from a tight angle on 30 minutes to put them back in front and Beadle added his second goal of the game just before half time after the home side seized upon a mix-up in the Boro defence.

Another defensive mistake let in Karl Jones to score Hyde's fourth goal 15 minutes from time.

The fifth straight defeat in Evo-Stik North left Boro second bottom in the table ahead of Saturday's visit of seventh-placed Tadcaster Albion.