RADCLIFFE captain Kingsley Williams believes the players have helped each other improve performances over the last couple of months.

Boro host local rivals Atherton Collieries on Saturday (3pm kick off) looking to bounce back from their first defeat in six games – a 4-3 home setback nine days ago.

Before that they took 11 points out of a possible 15 in an unbeaten five-game spell which saw marked progress in terms of individual and team displays.

Williams says the players deserve credit for eliminating a key problem.

“The players were passing the buck when things weren’t going right before rather than working for each other,” he said.

“Over the last few months we’ve been working hard on the training pitch trying to put things right that were going wrong.

“There’s more team feeling and team spirit now and it’s paying off in matches.

“We are more willing to run for each other and help each other on the field.

“We were in a bad situation, it couldn’t have got much worse and it was about the players understanding we’re all in it together and that we could only get out of it as a team and not as individuals.

“When you see your team-mate giving that extra sprint and that extra fight you are more likely to want to do the same.”

Looking ahead to the derby with Colls, who are five points and two places above Radcliffe in Evo-Stik North, Williams said: “We drew 1-1 at their place recently and did enough to get the three points. We now we feel we’re in a better position and it’s a chance to close the gap and get one over on them.”