RADCLIFFE BOROUGH 1, MATLOCK TOWN 1: With an outside chance of still making the cut for the UniBond League Premier Division promotion play-offs, Boro set off in confident mood and as early as the second minute a Steve Spencer cross found Ciaran Kilheeney and his looping shot went the wrong side of the upright.

On 10 minutes the same player could have had a penalty. Steve Foster showed good control to harness a long ball downfield before turning and laying it off for Kilheeney, who went down under a challenge from Town goalkeeper Jamie Ironside as he strode towards goal. But Referee Mr Dunn never even considered awarding a spot kick, although plenty have been given for much less.

On the quarter-hour Town, spurred on by their small but noisy band of supporters, complete with drums, saw Paul Riley blast over from a poor corner clearance.

But at this stage Boro looked comfortable, with Richard Battersby pulling the midfield strings, supplied by Scott Wilson's usual industry at winning possession and by Martyn Forrest picking up the loose ends before adding to Battersby's supply.

At the back Paul McGuire, Darren Royal and Simon Kelly seemed to have things under control, while up front Foster and Kilheeney looked like they had goals in them.

For the most part the two strikers were working well together and on 18 minutes a nice one-two saw Foster feed Kilheeney again, only for the ginger-haired striker to blast his shot a yard wide.

Two minutes later Kilheeney followed up a neat turn by bringing another good diving save out of Ironside, with the rebound falling to Gary Sampson, but he could only shoot wide.

Kilheeney then controlled a floated clearance before turning nicely and shooting over Ironside's bar.

However, the game seemed to turn in Town's favour once proceedings reached the half-hour mark.

Gary Webster's low drive didn't really test Boro goalkeeper Andy Johnston, but over the next 15 minutes he was to gradually see more and more action.

Webster had another shot blocked by Paul McGuire; Richard Taylor headed a free kick inches wide; Ian Clarke managed to avoid being picked-up by a Boro defender and volleyed over the home bar; followed by Steve Circuit hooking his volley also over the bar.

But a minute before half-tme the visitors finally got the break their steadily increasing pressure deserved.

Taylor was allowed to cut in from the right touchline and fire low. Johnston got down smartly but gave up a rebound which bounced kindly for Gareth Williams who evaded his marker and ran onto the ball on the left-hand edge of the six-yard box to drill home unopposed.

A visibly shaken Boro then tried to get back on level terms before the half-time whistle, but had only a Foster shot across the face of the Town goal to show, after good work from Sampson.

At the restart the exciting Leon Grandison was introduced for a concussed Steve Spencer, but after Foster blasted Sampson's cross over Boro seemed to go into panic mode.

Town's Riley was allowed to control a cross before turning and thankfully shooting wide, before Clarke hit a post with his shot.

That seemed to shake Boro out of their temporary stupor and Grandison rounded off a dazzling downfield charge from halfway by bringing a good save out of Ironside.

After yet another one-two with his strike partner, Foster shot tamely at Ironside and followed that up with two further chances in as many minutes after a good run from Kelly; the first rebounded off a defender's legs, the second went wide.

They seemed to sum up Boro's luck, with shots going in but either ending up wide or rebounding off various parts of the Town defenders' bodies

But luck arrived with five minutes to go.

Battersby's free kick from close to the right corner flag was cleared only as far as Wilson, who floated the ball over the Town defence and Foster was quickest to react and volleyed home from close range, despite offside claims from the devastated Town players.

Boro had grabbed a point when they could and should have had all three, but that's been the story throughout the season.

BORO: Johnston, Spencer, McGuire, Kelly, Royal, Sampson, Wilson, Battersby, Kilheeney, Foster, Forrest. Subs: Hill (for Kilheeney, 77), Grandison (for Spencer, 45 ), Massey (for Sampson, 81).