Radcliffe Borough...0 Eastwood Town...1: RADCLIFFE Borough tumbled out of the FA Trophy at the first hurdle as their season-long problem raised its ugly head again at Stainton Park on Saturday.

Boro seemed to have come up with a cure for their goal drought on their travels with a 7-0 FA Cup thrashing of Rossington Main and a handsome 3-1 win at Bishop Auckland in midweek.

It was back to the old, old story against Eastwood though as Boro struggled to find the target, despite applying plenty of pressure, especially in the second half.

They have yet to win at home in the league this season and it was easy to see why as Eastwood dominated in the early stages.

Nevertheless, it was Boro who carved out the better chances and Jody Banim, Richard Battersby and Barrie Keeling went close with shots that brought saves out of Eastwood goalkeeper Joel Armstrong.

A slip by Martin Diggle two minutes before half-time allowed Eastwood's Nicky Kennerdale to fire past Danny Hurst to give the visitors the lead.

It was the perfect time to score, but Boro reacted positively in the second half by taking the game to Eastwood, but despite their almost constant pressure they were unable to make the breakthrough and were condemned to an early exit from the Trophy.

It wasn't the best preparation for next Saturday's FA Cup third qualifying round tie at Colwyn Bay and the opportunity to put things right before then has been denied them as the league game against Workington, scheduled for tonight at Stainton Park, has been postponed as the Cumbrians have a Trophy replay date against Rocester to fulfill now after drawing 2-2 on Saturday.

At least Boro boss Kevin Glendon will be able to prepare for the game against Colwyn Bay with a fully-focused squad at his disposal, having beaten off interest in a couple of his players from rival clubs recently.

Droylsden and Stalybridge were reckoned to be keen to take striker Neill Hardy into the UniBond Premier League, but it didn't take Hardy too long to decided to stay at Boro and battle through his current spell of indifferent form.

Right back Richard Battersby was another target as Accrington were linked with the wing back who spent a spell on trial at Crewe last season.

Stanley's re-signing of striker Tony Black from Leigh RMI appears to have knocked that one in the head though as funds at the Crown Ground wouldn't stretch to the signing of both players.

Former Bolton and Leigh defender Nicky Spooner, ineligible for last Saturday's tie, has had his loan spell extended at Stainton Park and Boro have also been boosted by the presence of former skipper Mark Dempsey in recent matches, albeit starting on the bench.

Colwyn Bay are currently languishing at the bottom of the UniBond Premier Division table and if Boro can reproduce their recent away form against the Welshmen they may be in with the chance of causing an upset.

RADCLIFFE BOROUGH: Hurst 7, Battersby 7, Whealing 6, Kelly 6, Diggle 6, Elliott 7, Kay 6, Keeling 6, Hardy 6, Banim 6, Price 7. Substitutes: Dempsey, Landon, Grant, Bean, Felgate.