Radcliffe crashed out of the Lancashire Challenge Trophy after suffering a 6-0 defeat to Wythenshawe Amateurs on Saturday.

However it wasn’t all doom and gloom, as 12 young players made their senior debut -with the squad having an average age of 19.5.

Wythenshawe were 3-0 up inside 15 minutes as Saul Henderson grabbed a 12 minute hat-trick with three simple, yet well executed finishes.

The Ammies’ early dominance didn’t dim the Boro lights as they continued to search for a goal.

A big Radcliffe chance came in the 22nd minute when Bebeto Gomes was denied by Kyle Haslam with the loose ball falling to Hassan Muhamed but, with the goal at his mercy, a Wythenshawe defender got back superbly to block his shot.

Wythenshawe added a fourth eight minutes into the second half. Chris Howard got in front of the Radcliffe defender to meet Fran Frangillo’s cross and poke home from a few yards out.

Radcliffe had another good chance to get a goal back midway through the second half from a counter attack led by substitute Riley Conlon, who had only been on the pitch for two minutes.

Picking up a loose ball from a Wythenshawe corner, he drove it into space and then down the line and his cross eventually found Muhamed just inside the box- but his shot lacked power and was easily collected by Kyle Haslam.

With 20 minutes to go, Wythenshawe added two more goals in the space of two minutes. Louis White curled an excellent ball into the box which found Arthur Okonkwo, who volleyed it into the bottom corner.

Louis White was again involved for the second goal, converting a penalty into the roof of the net after Turner tripped up an oncoming attacker.

The game ended 6-0 but the positives for the youngsters were there to see.

Radcliffe are back in league action on Saturday, as we visit Gainsborough Trinity at The Northolme.