Top of the table Radcliffe tasted back-to-back league defeats for the first time this campaign, as they were defeated 3-1 at the Project Solar Stadium against play off chasing Hyde United.
Radcliffe started the brighter of the two sides, registering a number of shots, but nothing that troubled Hyde keeper Sam Waller. The best of the opportunities came on 9 minutes, as Scott Duxbury found his opposite wing back Jamie Morgan on the right, who aimed for Jordan Hulme in the box, Hyde defender Joel Amado slipped which allowed Hulme to get a shot off but fortunately for him it went wide.
On 19 minutes, Hyde went into the lead after a superbly orchestrated counter attack. Jack Redshaw played forward to Harry Ditchfield who found the run of Will Russ into the box and he finished across the onrushing Matt Hewelt and into the bottom corner. A calm and composed finish.
It only took six minutes before Radcliffe equalised, Jordan Hulme spooked the Hyde defence into expecting a shot as he entered the box, but instead produced a floating cross with the outside of his boot to find Jamie Morgan who only needed the faintest of touches to head past Sam Waller.
For the remainder of the first half, chances were even in number with both sides looking threatening on the counter attack in a very open and entertaining affair.
The second half was dominated by the home side, as they recorded a deserved win. Radcliffe struggled to keep possession as they did in the first half, and their impressive substitute bench failed to put Hyde under the same pressure as the starting eleven.
Hyde were rewarded for a patient build up as they took the lead again on 68 minutes. The ball was worked to Callum Spooner on the edge of the area, and he was offered time and space to fire a shot into the bottom corner.
They secured the three points on 87 minutes, as Jack Redshaw’s deep free kick was headed back across goal by Brad Roscoe, and Lewis Alessandra who was free for a tap in.
Hyde boss Nick Spooner was delighted with the victory at full time “It was a great result and performance; Radcliffe are a dangerous side so we had to show them respect. Credit to the players for their second half performance, from the starting eleven and the substitutes who came on.”
