Steve Adamson's half-season review: Boro impressing against the odds

Serious structural and drainage issues at the Scarborough Sports Village, sees Boro playing their ‘home’ games down the coast in Bridlington this season, resulting in lower crowds, and a huge drop in matchday income.

However the majority of last season’s players remained loyal to the club, and boss Jono Greening brought in giant defender Jake Hull from Rotherham United, and 21-year-old striker Rio Allan, who scored 39 goals for Hallam last season.

Dom Tear top scored with 52 not out in an enjoyable fund raising T20 cricket match at Scarborough Cricket Club, and Boro then went unbeaten in eight pre-season matches, Allan scoring six goals and Tear five, although Bill Marshall, who had impressed in pre-season, sustained a fractured fibula in a 4-0 win at Stockton Town.

AUGUST - The National League North campaign began with a 1-0 loss at Kidderminster Harriers, skipper Will Thornton giving a man of match performance, then goals from Ste Walker and a late Kieran Weledji winner secured a 2-1 win against AFC Fylde in the first home match.

A thrilling 2-2 draw at Chorley was next, Tear and Walker (penalty) scoring for Boro.

The in-form Walker again scored from the spot, with a wonder goal from Allan and Tear also on target in a 3-1 home defeat of Peterborough Sports.

A long trek to South Wales on Bank Holiday Monday, saw Boro trail at the interval, before fighting back to earn a fabulous 3-1 win at Merthyr Town, with goals from Walker, man of the match Alex Wiles and Allan.

The month ended with a Walker brace securing an impressive 2-0 home win against Southport, to leave Greening’s team fourth in the table with 13 points from six matches.

PLAYER OF THE MONTH - Ste Walker

SEPTEMBER - The unbeaten run stretched to six matches, as early goals from Jake Hull and the superb Luca Colville sealed a 2-1 home success against Buxton, then Allan scored, but hosts Chester snatched a stoppage time equaliser in a 1-1 draw that was marred by a hamstring injury to centre-back Hull, forcing him to miss the next seven games, while a troublesome knee injury also kept Richie Bennett out of action for even longer.

After eight league games, Boro were now third in the table, three points behind leaders South Shields.

Right-back Jack Waldron returned for a second loan spell from Sheffield United, but Boro crashed out of the FA Cup, losing 2-0 at NPL side Ashton United in his first outing.

Young midfielder Theo Chapman was brought in from Barnsley, and Zane Myers joined on a two-month loan spell from Hull City, both going on to make good impacts.

A Will Thornton goal secured a 1-0 home success over Oxford City, as Jono Greening achieved the 100th competitive win in charge as Boro manager.

PLAYER OF THE MONTH - Luca Colville.

OCTOBER - Skipper Will Thornton made his 200th appearance, as Boro trailed within two minutes, but rallied to win 3-2 at King’s Lynn, with man of the match Alex Purver, Ste Walker and Dom Tear on the scoresheet.

They were now third in the table, just three points behind leaders South Shields.

Then Kieran Weledji also celebrated his 200th appearance in a 2-0 home win against Leamington, Harry Green and Walker the scorers, to extend the unbeaten run to ten matches.

A below-par performance saw that fantastic unbeaten run shattered, with a 4-1 loss at AFC Telford United, Luca Colville netting the consolation goal, followed by another heavy defeat, 4-0 at unbeaten league leaders South Shields, with Purver Boro’s stand-out performer, but Alex Wiles hobbled off with a serious ankle injury.

A third successive loss, saw Marine end Boro’s 100% home record, scoring a 90th minute winner to seal a 2-1 success, with Walker the Boro scorer, as they ended the month fourth in the table after 14 matches.

PLAYER OF THE MONTH - Will Thornton.

NOVEMBER - North Yorkshire Council announced that work on repairing the pitch at the Sports Village would begin in January.

Centre-back Jake Hull returned from injury, as Boro suffered a fourth straight defeat, 1-0 at Worksop Town, with top scorer Walker hobbling off with a knee injury.

A terrific 2-1 win at Curzon Ashton ended the poor run, Rio Allan and Kieran Weledji scoring, but Dom Tear was sent off late on for receiving two yellow cards.

Theo Chapman, Luca Colville and Tear then netted in a 3-2 home success against Guisborough Town in the North Riding FA Senior Cup.

Midfielder Rocco Coyle joined on loan from Hull City, making his debut in a 1-0 loss at Leek Town in the FA Trophy, when the outstanding Alex Brown was Boro man of the match.

Defender Noah Wadsworth also arrived on loan from Hull City, impressing on his debut in a 0-0 home draw with Alfreton Town.

The month ended with a creditable 1-1 draw at Macclesfield, Dom Tear scoring, and keeper Ryan Whitley making a series of top class saves.

PLAYER OF THE MONTH - Alex Brown.

DECEMBER - A stoppage-time spot-kick from Rio Allan secured an exciting 2-2 home draw with newly-promoted Bedford Town, with star player Harry Green also on the scoresheet, as Boro sat sixth in the table, but the scheduled home match with Hereford was postponed due to the wintry weather.

The Seadogs suffered a 3-0 home loss to Radcliffe in their final home game before Christmas, Kieran Weledji being sent off for a second booking and left-back Alex Brown missing the game with a hamstring injury set to keep him out for up to six weeks.

PLAYER OF THE MONTH – Alex Purver