The Lions made it three defeats on the spin against a clinical Radcliffe side at Neuven Stadium this afternoon writes Adam Bridson.

Adam Haw opened the scoring for his second goal in two games and Joe Ackroyd added a late consolation but the hosts turned the game on its head with a brace from Jem Karacan and Rick Smith and Jude Oyibo strikes at the end of a week to forget for Danny Ellis’ side.

The warning signs were there in the Lions backline after just three minutes when Djavan Pedro somehow failed to convert a free header from four yards out.

It wasn’t a one sided game though and the visitors had the best of the following 20 minutes with Haw nearly scoring after he drove forward with the ball and cut in from the left hand side but his shot went just past the post.

Ellis had to be withdrawn early on with an injury with Jordan Emery coming on in his place, Emery himself had not played in just under a month.

Lewis Whitham, making his first away start, proved a constant thorn in Radcliffe’s side all afternoon with good deliveries into the box but the home defence managed to clear the danger.

It wasn’t long until the deadlock was broken through Haw, a ball forward was well controlled by Mohammad Qasim but he was crowded out in the six yard box and couldn’t get a shot off, Haw picked up the loose ball and slotted past Tom Stewart in the home goal.

Whitham nearly doubled his side’s advantage a few minutes later with a curled shot from 20 yards out which went just over the bar.

Radcliffe were only behind for six minutes and levelled the scores though Karacan’s header leaving Callum Hiddleston with no chance.

The hosts were on top after the equaliser and made their dominance count just before the break, a free kick was whipped into the box and Smith couldn’t miss as he headed home unmarked.

The final chance of the half fell to Haw who fired through a group of Radcliffe defenders but Stewart made a good save.

The second 45 took a while to get going but it was the impressive Haw once again who forced Stewart into a save at the end of a counter attacking move.

Emery was the next to come close as he flicked Jameel Ible’s knock down just over the bar before pinball in the home box as Haw, Qasim, Whitham and Ackroyd all saw shots blocked by the hosts who were defending well.

Radcliffe got their third through Karacan who slotted past Hiddleston at the end of a good move to double their advantage.

The Lions weren’t out of it though and Stewart thwarted Haw with a good stop as the striker looked certain to double his tally.

The hosts made the victory comfortable with five minutes left when substitute Oyibo stole possession off of Ible before striking underneath Hiddleston.

Ackroyd added a consolation in injury time with a goal which deserved to mean more as the on-loan Barnsley midfielder hit a shot from 20 yards out into the top corner.

Ellis’ men switch their attention to the Isuzu FA Trophy and a trip to Warrington Town on Saturday but hope to have Ross Daly back in contention as the midfielder made the bench this afternoon.