NEW boy Aaron Burns talked up Radcliffe’s promotion chances after the club returned to winning ways against Glossop North End.

The former Trafford striker bagged his first goal for Boro on Saturday, which, coupled with dropped points for Atherton Colls and Runcorn Linnets, gave Jon Macken’s side a real shot in the arm after recent poor form.

Big matches against the top two lie ahead – but first Radcliffe must negotiate a home meeting with Droylsden at the Neuven Stadium, followed by trips to Kendal and Colne.

Burns has urged the team to focus on getting their form to peak at the right time.

“We’ve obviously set ourselves targets individually and collectively and that has to be the spur,” he said of the Glossop win. “We need to keep pushing on and you never know what could happen. Play-offs in a minimum at this moment in time.

“Game on game we have to concentrate on ourselves and hopefully results take care of themselves

“We have to turn up Saturday and Tuesday and think about ourselves first and foremost. We have to try and win the games that we are in.”

“Obviously we know the upcoming fixtures but it’s all about picking up three points next week because if we don’t do that the games against Atherton and Runcorn aren’t as big as they potentially could be.”

After some difficult years, Boro’s success this season at the top end of the division has been warmly received by fans.

Two months remain to try to secure promotion – but Burns says there is plenty to be proud of in the way the club has progressed on and off the field.

“Radcliffe’s transition from a team that has predominantly struggled to where we are now has been dramatic,” he said.

“It’s about pushing on, continuing to do what we can do, we have some very good players in the dressing room and we’ve got good team spirit, and hopefully it will be a good season for us.”