Super-sub Maloney earns Boro a late 1-1 draw at play-off rivals Spennymoor
A dramatic late equaliser from Lewis Maloney secured Boro a 1-1 draw at Spennymoor, the seventh successive draw between the teams, after the hosts had made a dream start going ahead within two minutes.
Michael Duckworth was absent due to illness, but top scorer Ste Walker started, and Leon Gibson-Booth, back from a loan spell at Bridlington was on the bench. Spennymoor included ex-Boro loanees Olly Dyson and Tom Pugh in their squad.
Boro fell behind from the first attack, when a long ball forward from Dan Jones found Mackenzie Heaney in the area, to the right of goal. He took a couple of touches before firing into the top left corner.
Spennymoor created further chances, a Dyson cross was headed into the arms of Ryan Whitley by Glen Taylor, who also blazed over, and a Matty Dolan strike was blocked by Rocco Coyle.
Boro then enjoyed lots of possession, Alex Purver, Dom Tear and Coyle bossing midfield, but home keeper Brad James was rarely troubled.
Both Harry Green and Walker were tackled by Ben Beals as they raced into the area, and Walker blazed a shot over, while at the other end, a strong Will Thornton tackle halted Dyson and Rob Ramshaw failed to connect when Heaney chipped towards him in the area.
Early in the second half Coyle sprayed a pass wide left to Green, who cut inside and fired over, then for the hosts, Jones drilled narrowly wide, Tear blocked an Ethan Robson shot, and Heaney fired just over. Thornton, Kieran Weledji and Jack Waldron all defended superbly, and keeper Ryan Whitley pulled off two outstanding saves, palming away a deflected shot from Robson, and diving to beat away a fierce strike from Heaney.
Spennymoor looked dangerous going forward, Corey McKeown fired wide under pressure from Weledji, and Ramshaw was halted by timely tackles from both Thornton and the excellent Weledji.
Theo Chapman came on for Boro, and looked a threat down the left, as Boro began to create chances. Rio Allan squared to Maloney, who fired over, and Noah Wadsworth teed up Green, whose shot was blocked by Ramshaw.
A Purver corner was palmed off the head of Thornton by James, the ball falling to Maloney, who hoisted it back into the crowded goalmouth, and it dropped inside the right hand post for an 85th-minute leveller.
Both sides could have grabbed a late winner, Thornton deflected a Pugh shot over and Mondal fired over.
For Boro, a low Chapman shot was held by keeper James.
SPENNYMOOR - James, Dyson (McKeown 51), Jones, Rowe, Beals, Heaney (Mondal 80), Taylor (c), Ramshaw, Pollock, Robson (Pugh 76), Dolan. Unused subs - Johnson (GK), Hancock, Hill, Salkeld.
BORO - Whitley, Waldron, Wadsworth, Weledji, Thornton (c), Purver, Coyle (Maloney 65), Tear, Bennett (Allan 65), Walker (Chapman 51), Green (Gibson-Booth 87). Unused sub - Walpole (GK).
REFEREE - Scott Henry.
GOALS - Mackenzie Heaney (Spennymoor) 2, Lewis Maloney (Boro) 85.
GOAL ATTEMPTS - SPENNYMOOR 13 (4 on target) BORO 6 (right thanks 2 on target).
CORNERS - SPENNYMOOR 2 BORO 6.
OFFSIDES - SPENNYMOOR 0 BORO 1.
YELLOW CARDS - Matty Dolan, Dan Jones, Mackenzie Heaney (Spennymoor), Kieran Weledji (Boro).
BORO MAN OF MATCH - Kieran Weledji.
ATTENDANCE - 1,245 (c140 away).