Boro battle back to earn 2-2 home draw against leaders South Shields
The hardy faithful who braved a cold, misty and drizzly night in Bridlington were rewarded with a terrific game played on a heavy, rain-soaked pitch, as battling Boro came from two goals down to snatch a fully deserved 2-2 draw against National League North leaders South Shields.
Alex Purver was absent with a dead leg, Jack Waldron slotting into his midfield role, alongside the excellent Dom Tear, while full-timers Shields were playing their first match in 10 days after a postponement on Saturday.
The sparse crowd (live TV coverage on DAZN Sports was a factor) enjoyed an entertaining clash despite the awful conditions.
Early Boro attacks saw Rio Allan tackled by Will Jenkins as he raced into the box, a Waldron cross was headed into keeper Tom Watson’s arms by Kieran Weledji, and Tear had a shot blocked by Ethan Robson.
For the visitors, Ethan Mann screwed a shot wide, Will Thornton’s tackle halted a run from Jenkins, and Allan got back to tackle Oli Bainbridge on the edge of the box.
A Harry Green shot was blocked by Dan Dodds, before Shields took the lead, when Sonny Finch ran into a through-ball and clinically slotted past Boro keeper Ryan Whitley.
An Alex Brown tackle foiled Cedwyn Scott, who then flashed a shot wide. Boro also created chances, a clever flick from Allan towards Ste Walker, was hacked clear by Mann, Richie Bennett went sprawling in the area as he chased a ball forward from Green, but penalty appeals were ignored, an Allan cross dipped onto the roof of the net, then on 38 minutes a ferocious 22-yard free-kick from Green was met by a fantastic diving save from keeper Watson.
In Shields attacks, Whitley dived to push a Finch strike wide, and Thornton blocked a Scott effort.
Early in the second half, Tear had a shot blocked by Robbie Tinkler, then Allan blazed a free-kick over and also had a shot deflected wide by Lennon Wheeldon, while Bennett headed on to Walker, who was tackled by Dan Dodds as he ran into the area. Finch then charged forward for Shields, but a superb Thornton tackle stopped his run, and Wheeldon twice fired wide.
The visitors doubled their lead on 78 minutes when Scott laid off to Jenkins, who neatly placed his first-time shot past Whitley.
Debutant Jack Roles then came off the bench and fired wide, but with time running out, Boro staged a brilliant late fightback.
A lofted Waldron cross from the right was bundled in at the back post by Theo Chapman on 83 minutes, and with the 90 minutes up, Green’s deep corner from the left dropped to Jake Hull, who swivelled to lash through a crowded goalmouth, for a dramatic last-gasp leveller.
Both Hull and Weledji made blocks in stoppage-time as Boro held on for a hard-earned but fully-merited point against a very good team.
BORO - Whitley, Weledji, Brown, Hull, Thornton (c), Waldron, Allan, Tear, Walker, Bennett (Chapman 73), Green. Unused subs - Walpole (GK), Duckworth, Gibson-Booth.
SOUTH SHIELDS - Watson, Tinkler (c), Bainbridge, Robson, Jenkins, Ward (Roles 66), Mann, Finch (Morse 66), Wheeldon, Scott, Dodds. Unused subs - Sykes, Smith, McGurk, Alcock, Savage.
REFEREE - Scott Henry.
SHIELDS GOALS - Sonny Finch 24, Will Jenkins 78; BORO GOALS - Theo Chapman 83, Jake Hull 90.
GOAL ATTEMPTS - BORO 9 (4 on target) SOUTH SHIELDS 13 (4 on target).
CORNERS - BORO 4 SOUTH SHIELDS 5.
OFFSIDES - BORO 1 SOUTH SHIELDS 5.
YELLOW CARDS - Waldron, Bennett, Tear, Hull (Boro), Jenkins, Tinkler, Finch, Wheeldon (Shields).
BORO MAN OF MATCH - Match Sponsors - Stephen Walker, Scarborough News - Dom Tear.
ATTENDANCE - 525 (83 away).