Dutch Seadogs liven up Boro's grim goalless draw at home to Chorley
Honours were even, as Boro played out a grim goalless draw with Chorley on a cold and blustery Saturday afternoon in Bridlington, a seventh draw in their last eight home matches.
Pre-match hail, a heavy, bumpy pitch and the blustery winds made for difficult conditions, and with both defences on fine form, chances were few and far between, and excitement was at a premium, although the large and noisy contingent of visiting Dutch Seadogs produced a terrific atmosphere that livened up a mainly dull game.
Chorley made the better start, dominating early possession. Warren Clarke had a shot deflected wide by Jake Hull, Jack Sampson glanced a header wide from an Adam Blakeman corner, Alex Purver tackled Taelor O’Kane as he teed up a shot, and Michael Duckworth won several loose balls as Boro absorbed the pressure, before producing probably the best moment of the game on 21 minutes, when Rio Allan jinked past a defender, and fired towards the bottom left corner, but Chorley keeper Matt Urwin pulled off a terrific save, diving to tip the ball wide.
Centre-backs Will Thornton and Hull both won several defensive headers, and Thornton tackled Slovakian winger Milan Lalkovic on the edge of the box, before Boro began to apply pressure at the other end.
Ste Walker went on a mazy dribble, but was tackled by Clarke, a Jack Waldron strike was held by keeper Urwin, and Purver won possession and passed forward to Waldron, who laid off to Walker, whose shot was deflected wide by Sampson.
Just before the interval, a low shot from Clarke bobbled along the ground into the arms of Boro keeper Ryan Whitley.
The strong winds persisted throughout the second half, and again there was little to entertain the crowd.
A promising move for Chorley saw Harry Ibbitson pass to Lalkovic wide right, and his in-swinging cross was headed clear by Hull, then O’Kane fired into the chest of Whitley, and Ibbitson burst forward but was stopped by a Hull sliding tackle.
For Boro, Purver laid off to Richie Bennett whose shot was blocked by Mark Ellis, and a long-throw from Alex Brown fell at the feet of Thornton, who set up a shooting chance for Allan, who drilled over.
Allan looked lively, and he raced down the right, cut inside and fired straight at keeper Urwin, then Allan fired a 20-yard free-kick into the five-man wall.
Walker flicked-on to Bennett, who sent a through-ball towards the overlapping Brown on the left, but Clarke kicked clear.
Chorley had a couple of goal attempts, with both Clarke and Henley firing into the arms of Whitley, then a Blakeman cross was headed goal-wards by Sampson, but Whitley pulled off a good save at his near post.
The last chance of a poor game fell to Boro, when Waldron passed forward to Bennett, who chested down for Walker to volley into the arms of Urwin.
Plus points for Boro, a good defensive display, with Duckworth outstanding, and an 11th clean-sheet of the season.
BORO - Whitley, Duckworth, Brown, Hull, Thornton (c), Purver, Allan (Maloney 85), Weledji, S.Walker, Bennett, Waldron, unused subs - Mensah, Green, Tear.
CHORLEY - Urwin (c), Henley, Ellis, Wilson, Calveley, Sampson, Clarke, O’Kane, Blakeman, Lalkovic, Ibbitson, unused subs - Smith, Nolan, Griffiths, Moore, T.Walker, Bird, German.
REFEREE - Scott Henry.
GOAL ATTEMPTS - BORO 8 (4 on target) CHORLEY 7 (4 on target).
CORNERS - BORO 5 CHORLEY 4.
OFFSIDES - BORO 3 CHORLEY 3.
YELLOW CARDS - Jake Hull (Boro), Scott Wilson (Chorley).
BORO MAN OF MATCH - Michael Duckworth.
ATTENDANCE - 996 (60 away).