LANDLORD and tenant delighted fans in attendance as Radcliffe saw off Bury AFC 3-0 in a friendly at the Neuven Stadium.

The phoenix club will be playing their games at Boro’s home this season but were the away side on Tuesday night as the league difference between the sides told.

Andy Welsh’s ‘visitors’ will play their inaugural campaign in the North West Counties First Division North while Lee Fowler is looking to have Radcliffe at the right end of the Northern Premier League Premier Division.

The 600 tickets available as per Government guidelines were snapped up in no time given the significance of the occasion.

Fowler’s side are now unbeaten in five this pre-season and backed up their impressive 3-1 win over Chester on Saturday.

For AFC, it was a first defeat, the 2-1 win behind closed doors at Coppull United having followed the 5-0 win over Daisy Hill in their historic first game.

They began the game by creating several chances however, former Boro man Scott Metcalfe sending a free-kick narrowly wide.

Shortly after Bury danger man Lewis Gilboy tested former Shaker Cameron Belford who tipped his effort onto the crossbar.

It was the home team though who grabbed the first goal in the 11th minute.

The ball was played forward to Jean Louis Akpa-Apro who with the keeper rushing out played a pass to Kole Hall who finished into an empty net.

AFC looked to respond immediately with Belford saving from Greg Daniels before the referee waved away appeals for a penalty after Gilboy went down in the area.

Boro doubled their lead on 23 minutes, Bury’s trialist goalkeeper saving Matty Crothers’ free-kick only for the ball to loop up for former Love Island man Luis Morrison to prod the ball home.

Akpa-Apro then brought a save from the keeper with the resulting corner seeing two efforts cleared off the line.

A raft of substitutions slowed proceedings in the second half but AFC nearly reduced the deficit when Tony White saw a left-footed effort come back off the post.

It was Boro who rounded off the scoring in the 82nd minute as Khius Metz beat the offside trap before beating the on-rushing 'keeper.

Radcliffe continue their pre-season preparations with a trip to Ossett United on Saturday while Bury AFC welcome Nostell Miners Welfare of the Northern Counties East League to the Neuven on Saturday and Walshaw Sports two days later on Monday night (7.45pm).