Boro battle back for a point at play-off rivals Marine

With Luca Colville missing with a niggling ankle injury, Boro, backed by a large and noisy band of supporters, were unchanged from last week’s draw with Worksop, while Marine included new signing Jack Hazelhurst from Burton Albion on the bench.

Jono Greening’s side began on top. A long kick upfield from keeper Ryan Whitley fell to Rio Allan wide right, who cut in, and smashed his shot against the outside of the post, then Harry Green twice had shots blocked by Leigh Whelan and a couple of mazy Ste Walker dribbles had the defence back-peddling.

For the hosts, Fin Sinclair-Smith charged forward, but was halted by the excellent Kieran Weledji’s strong tackle, and Dan Martin blazed wide, while Will Thornton won a couple of crucial headers.

Marine took the lead on 28 minutes when Martin passed forward to Charlie Jolley, who shrugged off the challenge of Alex Brown, and drilled a left-foot shot into the bottom right corner, past the dive of Whitley. Sinclair-Smith then fired into the chest of Whitley, and also dragged a shot wide, while for Boro, a fierce Lewis Maloney volley was blocked by Whelan, and keeper Fraser Barnsley got down to smother a Dom Tear strike. Just before the interval Maloney limped off with a hamstring injury, to be replaced by Jack Waldron.

Boro were level within 50 seconds of the restart, when Brown passed out to Green on the left, and his low ball into the area found Walker, who turned and slammed into the net to register his 12th goal of the season.

Marine then created a couple of chances, Whitley held a Sinclair-Smith shot and Martin side-footed over. Boro looked dangerous going forward, with Brown, Green, Tear and Waldron all working hard.

Tear burst clear, but the keeper raced out to kick to safety, a Waldron cross was diverted inches wide off the knee of Walker, and Brown teed up Tear, whose shot was blocked by Adam Thomas, then Martin blocked a Walker strike.

Both sides created glorious chances in the space of a minute, first Whitley saved with his outstretched leg when Sinclair-Smith ran through one-on-one, then at the other end, Brown teed up the lively Walker, but home keeper Barnsley saved point-blank.

Sinclair-Smith and Adam Anson both fired over for Marine, and late Boro attacks saw a Green cross deflected into the keepers arms, a Purver free-kick was punched off the head of Jake Hull by Barnsley, and Waldron flashed a low ball across the goalmouth, with no one there to tap home.

MARINE - Barnsley, Whelan, Martin (Hazelhurst 67), Wardle (c), Ashton, Fielding, Sinclair-Smith, Anson, Thomas, Zanzala (Newell 58), Jolley (Potter 76). Unused subs - McIntyre (GK), Bell, Huby, Abbey.

BORO - Whitley, Weledji, Brown, Hull, Thornton(c), Purver, Allan (Bennett 77), Tear, Walker, Maloney (Waldron 44), Green. Unused subs - Walpole (GK), Gibson-Booth, Duckworth, Chapman.

REFEREE - Charlie King.

GOALS - Charlie Jolley (Marine) 28, Stephen Walker (Boro 46).

GOAL ATTEMPTS - MARINE 8 (4 on target) BORO 11 (4 on target).

CORNERS - MARINE 4 BORO 6.

OFFSIDES - MARINE 4 BORO 0.

YELLOW CARDS - Josh Wardle (Marine), Alex Purver, Kieran Weledji (Boro).

BORO MAN OF MATCH - Stephen Walker.

ATTENDANCE - 1,497 (160 away).