Shenton’s Radcliffe reign starts with a flourish against Scarborough

Sunday 11 October 2026 · By Vincent Tattersall

Grant Shenton could not have asked for a better start. The new Radcliffe manager watched his side beat Scarborough Athletic 4–1 in his first game in charge in the Enterprise National League North on Saturday, lifting the club off the bottom of the table.

Tyler James was the star of the show. He opened the scoring on 24 minutes and added his second on 73 minutes. Raglan made it three three minutes later, and McAllister completed the scoring in stoppage time. Rio Allan’s late penalty was Scarborough’s only reply in front of a crowd of 803.

Shenton was appointed on 3 October on a two-year deal, having joined from Avro. His side had been without a game for 14 days before Saturday, so he had time to work with the players on the training ground, and it showed. His reaction to the win was shared by the club in a video interview.

It has been a turbulent season at Radcliffe. Bernard Morley resigned on 19 August, and Nicky Adams took interim charge before Shenton’s appointment. The club had struggled for results, and Saturday’s victory was only their third league win of the season.

Radcliffe now have nine points from 11 games, with three wins and eight defeats. They are level on points and goal difference with Southport and AFC Telford United near the bottom of the table, and they have scored the same number of goals as Southport, so the exact placings between the clubs come down to fine margins. Their last five league results read lost, won, lost, lost, won.

The four goals on Saturday will give Shenton confidence that his side can score at this level. They have now scored 13 league goals this season, but conceded 21, so tightening up at the back will be the next task.

The next game could hardly be bigger. Radcliffe travel to Southport on Saturday 17 October in a true six-pointer. Southport are level with them on nine points and lost 1–0 at Harborough Town on Saturday, so both sides will see it as a chance to pull clear of the drop zone.

After that, Radcliffe host Chorley on Tuesday 27 October. Chorley have won their last two league games and are in the top half, so it will be a tough test.

James’s two goals were the highlight. He opened the scoring midway through the first half and then made the game safe in the second, before Raglan and McAllister added gloss to the scoreline. Scarborough, who arrived with a long injury list, had no answer, and Allan’s late penalty came too late to matter.

The result moved Radcliffe off the foot of the table, and it gave the club’s supporters something to cheer after a difficult start to the campaign.

Shenton has made an immediate impact, and the 4–1 win has given the club a real lift. But one result does not change everything, and the trip to Haig Avenue will show whether Radcliffe can build on their flying start under their new manager.