Nuneaton's Nationwide Conference relegation worries were worsened by their 4-1 mauling at Scarborough which could have been a lot worse.

Keith Gilroy provided the cross for Mohammed Sillah to score from close range in the first half and the little Irish winger scored from the penalty spot when he was tripped just after the interval.

Andy Woods had made a superb scrambling save to deny Gez Murphy just before half-time but was beaten by former Scarborough favourite Steve Brodie when he converted a Marc McGregor cross.

But order was soon restored thanks to a Ross Weatherstone own goal when he turned in Cleveland Taylor's mishit effort.

Taylor had missed chances throughout but had the final word when he showed defenders a clean pair of heels to wrap up the scoring five minutes from time.

Boro manager Russ Slade said: "Who knows what the scoreline would have been if Cleveland had got his shooting boots on because he should have had a hat-trick in the first half when we played some lovely football."

Scott Kerr played with a broken nose and showed again that he has been a superb acquisition and the fans who mobbed the team at the end of the game will be hoping the club can tie him down with a contract for next season in talks due to take place this week.

Scarborough: Woods, Dempsey, Ridler, Sillah, Price, Gilroy, Kerr, Stoker, Pounder, Taylor, Fatokun (Connell 69).

Nuneaton: Mackenzie, Clifford, Angus, Weatherstone, Barrick, Love (D Williams 61), Mansell, B Williams, Brown, Brodie, Murphy (McGregor 57).

Referee: N Miller (Durham).

Attendance: 1,451.

Updated: 11:51 Tuesday, April 22, 2003