IF you wanted to encapsulate the story of Radcliffe Boro's season in a single game, you could use this as the example.

Once again Boro threw everything but the kitchen sink at their inferior oppoenents, but once again Boro didn't take their chances and they were undone by a rare Maine Road foray up-front.

Boro had the perfect opportunity to build on Saturday's 3-2 FA Trophy win over Leek Town with another cup win on Tuesday night.

However, they just didn't have the firepower to break down a stubborn and, at times, unorthodox Maine Road rearguard.

Boro pressed their opponents from the off and Scott Warner rattled the bar eight minutes in with a thundering shot from fully 25 yards out.

Warner was at the hub of every decent Boro move, but it was Andy Heald who went close next when he marginally failed to connect with Tony Whealing's clever cross that was then collected by visiting keeper Greg Hall.

Simon Kelly was on hand to make a goal-saving tackle on Gareth Richards, before the industrious Haydn Eames was inches away from connecting with Andy Heald's teasing cross from the left.

With time running out in the first half, Maine Road took a surprise lead through Andrew Kennedy after a well-worked free-kick.

Boro started - and ended - the second half at a frenetic pace and Martyn Forrest flashed an effort across goal, before Eames was denied by a great save from Hall after connecting with a delightful Whealing cross.

Lee Duffy sent in a couple of devastating crosses that went begging before Heald saw an effort trickle agonisingly wide after the ball had broken free to the former Leigh RMI man.

Boro continued to press hard and substitute Chris Downey nearly scored what would have been the perfect goal on 82 minutes.

Heald passed across the area to the impressive Fisher, who volleyed over a first-time cross. Unfortunately for Boro, Downey's header was straight at Hall in the Maine Road goal.

Boro started to get desperate and resorted to long ball tactics, but it was to no avail and they were left to rue a host of missed opportunities.

There were silver linings, though, in the form of young midfielders Eames and Fisher. Both players have waited patiently in the wings for their chance, and they have certainly given manager Andy Johnston some selection problems with their all-action dynamic displays.

Johnston, who missed the game due to his coaching commitments with the England Ladies team, said: "My coaches said that we just had no cutting edge and it was the same old story.

"But, we can't feel sorry for ourselves. We have to pick ourselves up because a win on Saturday will see us storm up the table and everyone will be smiling again."

On Saturday, Boro are at home to Matlock (3pm kick-off), before travelling to Bamber Bridge on Tuesday evening in the UniBond Cup.