RADCLIFFE BORO...1 BAMBER BRIDGE...2: COMING back from two goals down proved too big a hurdle for Boro, who slipped to a disappointing defeat against their Preston rivals and two places down the Unibond Premier League table to ninth.

Kevin Glendon's men went into the game buoyed by the loan capture of Droylsden winger Ciaran Kilheeney but were soon on the back foot when Daniel Mills headed home a second minute corner to edge third-placed Bridge in front.

The goal resulted from slack marking and Boro failed to take heed, conceding again just 15 minutes later when Christopher Ward hooked home a cross from the right to shatter Boro's fragile confidence.

The home side visibly went to pieces for the remainder of the half as passes went astray and Bridge pressed forward looking to apply the sucker punch to a Boro side clearly on the ropes.

Richard Battersby did put in some good crosses but they came to nothing and Scott Wilson brought the best out of visiting keeper Andrew Banks at the end of Boro's best move of the half.

It could have been worse, Boro keeper Danny Hurst was nearly left red-faced as he watched Stewart Clitheroe's lob go narrowly wide when well beaten.

The half-time whistle couldn't come quick enough for Glendon and he responded by throwing on all three of his substitutes at the resumption.

The changes seemed to work as Boro were injected with a fresh vigour that seemed to unsettle their opponents.

Bridge tried to dominate the midfield and went close though substitute Mark Wane before Boro hauled themselves back in the game.

The industrious and impressive Wilson did all the hard work to set up Kilheeney, who slotted past Banks with consumate ease.

Boro sensed blood and were on top but couldn't convert their superiority into goals as Kelly was inches away from connecting with Lee Duffy's teasing cross.

With 28 minutes left on the clock, hard-working front-runner Rory Patterson went close when he curled a shot round the post from Phil Denney's short corner.

Kilheeney then blazed another effort over the bar but Boro were lucky not to concede on the break as they poured forward looking for an equaliser.

However, it wasn't to be as Bridge stood firm in the face of some fierce Boro pressure.

Overall, Boro were made to pay for a poor first half display and will have to improve for Saturday's visit of 18th-placed Blyth Spartans.

The defending was slack and Boro paid the ultimate price but, on the positive side, Wilson was full of running in midfield and the front pairing of Denney and Patterson worked their socks off without ever getting the full service they undoubtedly crave.

BORO: Hurst, Duffy, Battersby, Kelly, Foster, Wilson, Spencer, Carden, Denney, Patterson, Price. Subs: Kilheeney, Baguley, Hill.