A dominant first half display from Radcliffe condemned Moors to defeat at The Brewery field despite a second half fight-back.
A duo of goals from Rio Clegg, as well as a stunner from Michael Afuye had The Boro three up at the break, before a close-range effort from Luke Williams and a wonder-strike from Mitch Hancox cut the game down to 3-2.
Radcliffe started the game the better, with Kian Scales striking goalwards, only to see the effort blocked within the opening five minutes.
Brad James was called into action for the first time when Clegg struck from an awkward angle, as he pushed the shot wide of the mark at his near post.
Continued pressure saw chances for Brad Roscoe and Afuye, though neither came to any result.
The visitors won a penalty just shy of the half-hour mark as Dan Jones was adjudged top have fouled Afuye inside of the penalty area. Clegg stepped up to take the spot kick, and fired home into the bottom left-hand corner, sending James the wrong way and putting his side into the lead.
Moors looked to hit back quickly, as Mackenzie Heaney whipped a sharp looking ball into the path of Glen Taylor, who navigated a header goalwards, only to see it blocked by a Boro man.
Anthony Johnson and Bernard Morley’s men went on to grab a second in the 38th minute, as good work from Afuye saw him shift the ball onto his left foot and curl a brilliant finish into the top left corner from just inside the area.
It didn’t take long for the ex-Moors boss’ side to add to their tally, as Clegg doubled up. A strike from Afuye deflected into the path of the number 17, whose deft touch guided the ball into the back of the net to set up an even tougher mountain to climb in the second half.
Moors came out for the second period with intent, as Heaney looked to get a goal back through an ambitious, halfway line effort. Having spotted Mark Halstead off his line, the Moors winger struck an effort on goal, only for it to land on the roof of the net.
Chances for both sides came and went just after the hour mark, first for Moors, as Heaney smashed an effort well wide, before Clegg, on a hat-trick, fluffed his lines in front of goal, somehow missing the target from just a few yards out.
Debutant Luke Williams announced himself to The Brewery Field crowd just two minutes after entering the field, as he spun on ball into the box from Glen Taylor and finished neatly past Halstead to pull a goal back.
Moors went close again in the 78th minute, when Matty Dolan’s delivery to the far post forced Halstead into a brilliant save, as he was made to tip the ball wide of the post.
Kian Scales looked to add a fourth for the visitors as time began to wind down, but James was on hand to claim, despite pressure around his penalty area.
A moment of magic from Hancox put the game back in the balance with one minute of normal time remaining, when he smashed an audacious effort in off the bar from well outside of the 18-yard box, giving Moors a lifeline.
Corey McKeown could’ve made it 3-3, only for his curling effort to land in the arms of Halstead, closing the game and securing the three points for the visitors.
Full Time: Moors 2 Radcliffe 3
Moors: James, Rowe, Pollock, Beals (McKeown 46), Jones (Salkeld 60), Dolan, Robson (Hancox 60), Dyson, Ramshaw (Mondal 46), Heaney (Williams 72), Taylor.
Subs not used: Johnson, Hill
Booked: Taylor (33), Robson (44), Dyson (58), Hancox (90)
Radcliffe: Halstead, Roscoe, Smith, McFadzean, Afuye (Dudley 90), Greenfield (Thornley 90), Maynard, Scales, Taylor (James 80), Hulme (Ball 75), Clegg (Hope 75).
Subs not used: Hewelt, Partington.
Booked: Scales (83), Hope (90).
Referee: David Jones
Attendance: 1,137
Written by Noah Betts