Radcliffe were defeated 2–0 by league newcomers Spalding United at home, with the visitors scoring twice after the break to take all three points in a game of very few clear-cut chances.
The opening exchanges were evenly contested, with both sides enjoying spells of possession and creating half-chances.
However, neither team could find the finishing touch as the first half remained goalless.
Spalding manufactured the first opportunity of the second half, doing well to deal with a Radcliffe long throw that narrowly missed the foot of Brad Roscoe.
Yusifu Ceesay then drove down the right-hand side on the counter before curling a dangerous ball into the area, but Tom Davies was alert to the danger and cleared the cross behind for a corner, which Radcliffe dealt with comfortably.
On 55 minutes, the ball broke to Jack Roberts in space on the right.
He managed to get a strike away, but Tom Donaghy was equal to the effort, getting down well to palm the ball away from danger.
Moments later, Ceesay drove at the left side of the Boro defence and managed to get beyond Michael Nottingham before delivering a teasing ball across the area.
The cross flashed across the six-yard box, with Roscoe attempting to stick out a foot and make the clearance.
Unfortunately for the Radcliffe defender, the ball took a deflection and wrong-footed Donaghy, finding the back of the net to give the visitors the lead.
With 20 minutes remaining, the Boro put together a promising attack and won a corner.
A short set-piece saw Danny Greenfield exchange passes with Michael Afuye before the latter delivered towards the back post.
The ball then pinballed around the penalty area, with Radcliffe players appealing for a penalty, but the referee quickly waved away the claims and Spalding eventually cleared their lines.
Moments after the home side’s corner, Tom Pugh found space and delivered a cross into the area, where Bart Cybulski had peeled away unmarked.
The Polish striker met the ball with a header and directed it down towards goal, but Donaghy produced another excellent save, throwing himself across his goal to palm the effort away.
As the final 10 minutes approached, Radcliffe began committing more players forward in search of an equaliser, throwing bodies into the Spalding penalty area.
The visitors remained organised, however, repeatedly clearing the danger.
With just moments remaining, Cybulski rolled the ball across the edge of the area for a Spalding midfielder, whose effort appeared destined for the corner.
Once again though, Donaghy came to Radcliffe’s rescue, getting a foot to the ball to keep Boro in the contest.
Five minutes of added time were indicated, but Spalding would have the final say in the dying embers.
Cybulski found himself through one-on-one with Donaghy and made no mistake this time, calmly placing the ball into the bottom-left corner to double the visitors’ advantage and seal all three points.
Radcliffe will look to bounce back next Saturday when they travel to Macclesfield in the National League North.
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