OUTGOING manager Danny Johnson has challenged Radcliffe Borough to build some momentum as the club looks to the future.

Boro already looked safe from relegation before the Easter weekend but put further space between themselves and the bottom two of the Evo-Stik First Division North.

After two straight defeats, Boro bounced back with a 3-0 home victory against Prescot Cables on Saturday.

And despite going 3-0 down on Easter Monday at Droylsden, with whom they were level on points, Boro staged a thrilling late fightback to draw 3-3.

Johnson may be stepping down at the end of the season but he is determined to leave Boro in good shape.

Having struggled for results during the early stages of the season, Johnson’s young side are now applying the lessons they have learnt this season.

And despite picking up another four points over Easter, Johnson believes the Boro players must keep learning.

“It was inconsistency again over Easter,” he said.

“We were magnificent on Saturday. To say we could have scored 12 or 13, I’m not exaggerating. We should have taken the game away from the opposition.

“There was more careless finishing at Droylsden and we defended poorly, especially in the first half. We shouldn’t have conceded the three goals that we did.

“The lads showed great character to come back but they need to learn they can’t just show that when they want, they need to show it every time they take to the pitch.

“When the other team is down you need to be ruthless, you need to make sure they don’t get back up.

“That’s what wins you games and trophies, and hopefully the lads can do that next season.

“They have been naïve at times this season but they have also shown they have a bit of quality and aggression. Had they applied that throughout the season we could have got 12 or 13 more points and maybe be looking up to the play-off places.”

Although Johnson will not be at Boro next term, he is building for the future by signing youngsters Adam Leach, Sam Daniels and Reece Granner on first-team forms before the registration deadline last week.

“I’ve heard good things about them all season but it wouldn’t have been fair to bring them in when there was a lot at stake,” said Johnson. “Now’s a good time to give them a chance and hopefully they’ll be ones for the future. I still want them and the other lads to push on this term, though.

“Prescot said on Saturday that they have nothing to play for but I don’t believe in that. You’ve always got something to prove.

“We’ve got six games left so I want us to keep going and get to 40 points.”

Boro’s next two games are both at home – to Burscough on Saturday and rock-bottom New Mills on Tuesday night.