Depleted Boro's miserable Trophy record continues with loss at Leek Town

Michael Duckworth (back strain) joined Harry Green, Lewis Maloney, Alex Wiles and top scorer Ste Walker on the injured list, Dom Tear was suspended and Leon Gibson-Booth cup-tied, with Richie Bennett, still not fully fit, on the bench, as was new loan signing Rocco Coyle.

Boro began brightly, dominating possession in the first half, passing the ball around and creating decent chances.

Alex Purver passed forward to Luca Colville, who raced down the left but his low cross into the goalmouth just evaded the boot of Rio Allan, then Alex Brown teed up Jack Waldron, who fired into the chest of Leek keeper Dino Visser.

Colville accepted a pass from Brown, went past a defender and squared to Allan, who scuffed his shot wide, and Kieran Weledji burst forward but was halted by an Alex Hurst tackle.

On 24 minutes Colville fired against the base of the right-hand post, then a delightful through-ball from Zane Myers found Theo Chapman, but Visser dived to tip his shot wide, and Colville laid off to Waldron, whose shot was blocked by Lucas Weir.

Tom Curl tackled Weledji when he ran into the box, then Leek broke forward and Tunde Owolabi’s fierce shot forced a superb diving save from Ryan Whitley, their only shot of the first half. Just before the interval, a Chapman shot was blocked by Liam Edwards, then a Myers strike was held by the keeper.

Leek were much more of a threat in the second half, Brown intercepting when Louis Potts chased an Owolabi through-ball, and Whitley plucked a Hurst cross off the head of Weir, before the hosts opened the scoring when Ollie Heywood crossed from the left towards Potts, who had space to take a touch and slam the ball past Whitley.

Boro immediately fought back, pushing men forward, with Brown, Colville and Myers especially lively. Purver scooped a shot over, and Colville flicked on to Allan, but Weir kicked clear.

Leek defended superbly, and also looked dangerous on the counter, Hurst and Callum Leigh both fired wide and Will Thornton’s tackle ended a run from Owolabi, who also had a shot blocked by Jake Hull. Whitley made a flying save to tip over a dipping volley from Weir, then smothered a shot from Connor Heath.

For Boro, Colville twice blazed over, Heywood hacked clear when Myers jinked into the area, and Waldron fed Allan, who was tackled by Heywood.

A Waldron ball into the goalmouth was kicked clear by Julius Ndene, and right at the end, Brown teed up Myers, who fired high over the bar.

LEEK - Visser (c), Buckley (Ndene 55), Curl, Heywood, Edwards, Reeves, Hurst, Leigh, Potts (Heath 75), Owolabi (Shenton 82), Weir, unused subs - Brammer, Hodgkin.

BORO - Whitley, Weledji, Brown, Hull, Thornton (c), Purver, Myers, Waldron, Allan, Chapman (Coyle 62), Colville, unused subs - Marshall, Bennett.

REFEREE - Ethan Murray.

LEEK GOAL - Louis Potts 61.

GOAL ATTEMPTS - LEEK 7 (4 on target) BORO 12 (4 on target).

CORNERS - LEEK 7 BORO 3.

OFFSIDES - LEEK 5 BORO 4.

YELLOW CARDS - Billy Reeves, Dino Visser, Louis Potts (Leek), Jake Hull, Jono Greening (manager), Zane Myers, Will Thornton

BORO MAN OF MATCH - Alex Brown.

ATTENDANCE - 491 (c100 away).