Radcliffe enjoyed a 6-2 win against neighbours Ramsbottom United to record an emphatic finish to their pre-season campaign.

Jem Karacan and Luca Navarro both dispatched their fourth goals of pre-season while Matty Crothers and a trialist both got on the scoresheet in a blistering display from Boro.

It was always going to be a tough test for Rammy with Boro bringing in a number of high profile signings over the summer, but boss Lee Donafee was eager to test his team and to see how they would fair.

And it was Rammy who got off to a flyer when the front three of Creech, Rouse and Donaldson all linked up to grab a goal in the opening two minutes.

Rammy had built up from the back and the ball was fizzed into Leon Creech who managed to spin away from his man and release Domaine Rouse down the right-hand side. Rouse squared it across the box to the onrushing Tony Donaldson who calmly put it around ex-Rams shot-stopper Tom Stewart.

However, that lead was quickly evaporated soon after however, as Crothers struck his first of the night with a driven effort from the right side of the box, after a number of players attempted to convert it in the build-up.

That didn’t deter the Rams as they regained the lead in an entertaining opening 20 minutes.

Donafee’s side continued to push forward and they were rewarded when Oscar Radcliffe found Rouse with a fantastic ball.

Rouse took the first-time shot and smashed it home giving the goalkeeper absolutely no chance.

Back came Boro and Ben Rydel was inches away from replicating his debut free kick against Buxton after half an hour, but his shot was rifled slightly wide of the target when most of the crowd expected it to nestle into the top left corner of the net.

Moments later, Karacan converted his third goal of pre-season to equalise with 10 minutes to go until the break. Crothers turned provider this time, laying it into space for the Turk to tuck it into the bottom right corner from 12 yards out.

Just before the break, Boro took the lead for the first time when they were awarded a penalty. A trialist stepped up and confidently converted into the top left corner, despite Harry Turner making contact with the ball on its way into the net.

Radcliffe were on the charge from the off at the start of the second period and netted a further two goals within thirteen minutes of the restart. Matty Crothers scored his second of the game with a drilled shot into an open net after being squared in by a trialist, Jem Karacan grabbed a fifth with a cheeky dink over Harry Turner which evaded the defender trying to keep it off on the line.

Ten minutes later, a sixth and final Radcliffe goal was put away by substitute, Luca Navarro. A misplaced pass by the Rammy shot-stopper fell to the feet of the winger who calmly rolled it into the bottom right corner of the net.

From that point onwards the damage had been done and Radcliffe saw out the game fairly comfortably to end their pre-season campaign in convincing fashion.

Boro kick off their NPL Premier Division campaign at Hyde United on Saturday, August 13 before they welcome Matlock Town to the Neuven Stadium the following Tuesday.

Despite the scoreline, Ramsbottom United can take some positives out of the game having played some really good football at times and will be hoping that they can do that again in their FA Cup tie away at Thackley on Saturday.