RADCLIFFE BORO 1, LEEK TOWN 1: Having brought Hyde United's unbeaten run to an end two days previously, and before that grabbing three points at Marine on Boxing day, Boro went into this game in confident mood.

Throughout the game they created numerous chances and with better finishing and a different referee may well have won at a canter

As early as the fifth minute they laid siege to the Town goal, with goalkeeper Mark Cartwright relying on his defenders to block two shots in as many seconds before the third was fired wide.

On 14 minutes Ciaran Kilheeney, who had another impressive game alongside Steve Foster, pounced on a Richard Battersby through-ball to turn on a sixpence on the edge of the Town area before nutmegging his marker, but he then pulled his shot wide.

Ten minutes later Foster - Boro's leading scorer - was presented with a gilt-edged opportunity.

A deftly floated Lee Duffy cross from the right seemed destined to connect with Foster's head as he jumped unmarked in the Town 18-yard box.

But he was unable to connect and the chance went begging.

Another fine move saw Stephen Hill's powerful defensive header controlled by Foster before releasing Kilheeney, but he was pulled up for offside.

Having bossed the game for the most part the obvious then happened - Town went ahead against the run of play from the penalty spot.

It was a hotly disputed decision by referee Mr Cummins that gave Town centre-back Matt Hadrell the chance to put his side in front, which he did in the 36th minute, and Boro had to go in for their half-time brew a goal behind.

They emerged refreshed for the second half, determined to get back on terms and within three minutes Kilheeney fired in a low shot that Cartwright could only parry, with the rebound falling to Foster, but he blasted over the bar.

On 53 minutes, Kilheeney turned provider, laying off a well measured pass to Foster who again lifted his shot over the bar.

After a Lee Duffy screamer Boro thought the equaliser had arrived when Foster was chopped down from behind in the Town box when clear through on goal - but Mr Cummins waived away Boro's understandably vociferous appeals for a spot kick.

If anything it was an even more blatant penalty than the one he had awarded in the first half.

Realising the game was there for the taking, Boro boss Kevin Glendon replaced midfielder Gary Sampson with centre forward Phil Denney in the 77th minute, and he formed a striking triumvirate with Foster and Kilheeney that eventually paid off.

With 83 minutes gone, Foster controlled the ball in the right-hand corner of the box before curling a looping shot over Cartwright and into the top left-hand corner of the net for a deserved equaliser.

The point brought Boro's total for the festive period to seven from nine, following on from the 3-1 Boxing Day win at Marine and the 1-0 home defeat of Hyde United on New Year's day, which keep alive Boro's hopes of a play-off place come April.

Next up is a trip over the Pennines to take on Wakefield-Emley on Saturday, who Boro beat 3-2 back in November.

BORO: Hurst, Duffy, Kelly, McGuire, Hill, Sampson, Wilson, Battersby, Kilheeney, Foster, Forrest. Subs: Denney (for Sampson, 77), Crowther, A.McMahon

PETER COLLINS