SUPER sub Luca Navarro scored a brilliant second half hat-trick as Radcliffe moved a step closer to winning the NPL Premier Division title thanks a 4-0 victory against Matlock Town, writes Kieran Wilson.

Boro need just one point from their remaining five games to be crowned champions following a dominant display at the Neuven Stadium - a win that avenged defeat by the same scoreline at the Derbyshire outfit earlier in the campaign.

Joint managers Bernard Morley and Anthony Johnson made one change to the side that completed a stunning comeback last time out at Bradford Park Avenue, as Ewan Bange entered the starting line-up in place of Brad Jackson.

The travelling Gladiators had the first sight at goal of the afternoon as skipper John Johnston tried his luck from 20 yards out. His shot was heading for the top right corner of the Radcliffe net but Mateusz Hewelt was able to dive to his left and palm the ball over the crossbar.

Radcliffe's first meaningful chance came in the 20th minute when Willem Tomlinson picked up a poor Matlock clearance on the right wing and delivered a teasing ball looking for a blue shirt - but his cross landed kindly for Myles Wright who regained possession.

Two minutes later, Olly Thornley almost headed the home side into the lead as Tomlinson clipped the ball in front of a hesitant Wright, and the defender steamed in front of the Matlock man to power a header narrowly wide.

But on the half-hour mark, Boro made the breakthrough when Jude Oyibo latched on to a pass from Jake Thompson to thump thump the ball home at the far post.

Radcliffe started the second half well, with Bange twice testing the Matlock keeper early on. However, Wright was up to the test and turned the ball past the post.

In the 57th minute, Radcliffe made their first change as Navarro replaced Bange and the 24 year-old’s first impact was to double the Boro lead. Thornley laid the ball off to the sub, who skipped past one defender before picking out the top right corner from the edge of the area with a powerful, and curling strike.

Moments later, Radcliffe nearly extended their lead when a shot from Thompson was pushed wide by Wright. From the following corner, Josh Hancock’s deflected header was superbly tipped over the bar by the busy Matlock keeper.

But Navarro then scored twice in the space of seven minutes to end the game as a contest and completed a hat-trick within 19 minutes of entering the fray.

First, he gained possession on the left side through Nicky Adams’ forward pass before shifting the ball to his right, sliding into the bottom corner despite Wright getting down quickly to keep out the attempt.

Navarro then completed his hat-trick when Thompson fizzed the ball into the corridor of uncertainty and he was on hand to tap into the back of the net on the stretch before wheeling away in celebration.

Radcliffe will now look to wrap up the title with only a point needed next up away at Whitby Town on Saturday, however if Macclesfield drop points on the road at Bamber Bridge on Tuesday night, they will be champions.

Radcliffe: Hewelt, Thompson, Duxbury, Maynard, Thornley, Tomlinson, Hancock (Modi 69’), Adams, Bange (Navarro 57’), Dudley, Oyibo (Morgan 77’)

Unused Subs: Tse, Jackson

Matlock: Wright, Dimaio, West, Whitehead, Yates, Evans, Johnston, Wright (Clark 69’), Boden (Crofts 83’), Hardy (Kuleya 58’), Durose

Unused Subs: Armond, Deeney