RADCLIFFE assistant boss David Thompson believes Boro can really push on after claiming their first three points of the season away to early title favourites South Shields.

Former Bury loanee Jean Louis Akpa-Akpro scored twice with Kole Hall also on target in the impressive 3-1 victory on Tuesday night.

Boro had lost their two opening games in the Pitching In Northern Premier League Premier Division, going down 4-2 at Buxton and 4-1 at home to Witton Albion.

Now former Liverpool midfielder Thompson thinks the South Shields victory is a reward for all the hard work put in behind the scenes.

Lee Fowler’s No.2 said: “It is a great feeling actually because the lads have been working so hard all over pre-season and we had them in early.

“They put the effort in, real fitness sessions, and the whole time it was voluntary and it has shown here.

“It is a really pleasing performance for us. Even on the back of the two defeats that we have had, Fowls has seen how good the lads are and they reproduced it today.

“We are celebrating in the changing room because we have pulled out the performance that we know is in there because we were struggling for a bit of confidence.

“Not because we beat South Shields but because that was a performance we knew was there.

“The lads have cut of the silly mistakes and managed to get the three points.

“This is what is required going forward if we want to be successful in this league.”

Now attentions turn to building on an eye-catching result when Basford United visit the Neuven Stadium on Saturday.

“It was a really organised performance on Tuesday and to see the gameplan carried out was the most pleasing part of this game,” said Thompson. 

“The lads went out there, put the effort in a got the three points and we can continue to take this into Saturday’s game.

“It is another hard game for us but one we can win and get three points.

“We are looking forward to it. You saw the lads on the bench, the lads that came on, there is great team spirit there and that is going to carry us forward.

“Everyone to a man was superb, you can pinpoint certain performances but everyone to a man was amazing.”