RADCLIFFE kept their Evo-Stik West title hopes on course with a 1-0 win at home to Kidsgrove Athletic.

Boro remained top of the table after the weekend, though closest rivals Atherton Collieries replaced them at the summit with a win at home to Newcastle Town on Monday night.

The first real chance came for Kidsgrove after 18 minutes when Ollie Martin’s clearance was blocked and Anthony Malbon’s shot was saved.

Mablon had rounded Martin but the keeper scrambled back to claw away the ball before it could cross the line.

The Boro took the lead 28 minutes in as Tunde Owolabi made the most of a mistake by Kieran Harrison, the keeper fumbling an easy catch and the ball falling kindly for the striker who half-volleyed the ball into the net.

Radcliffe could have doubled their lead just before half time when Owolabi found himself one on one with the keeper but he got the ball stuck in his feet and the danger was cleared by Kidsgrove.

The Boro nearly added a second again around the hour mark.

A corner fell to Prince Haywood at the edge of the box but his effort at goal went over the bar.

Radcliffe continued to look for a second and Owolabi played in Scott Metcalfe who looked to drill the ball into the bottom corner but his powerful effort was blocked.

The best chance of the second period fell to Owolabi but, after Metcalfe whipped a cross into the box, Owolabi couldn’t direct his effort goalwards and it went just wide of the far post.

Kidsgrove almost snatched an equaliser late on as the ball fell to Mitchel Glover but he sliced his effort and it went high and wide of the Boro goal.