Report from yesterdays match from official site as I could not attend.
SCARBOROUGH ATHLETIC 2 MALTBY MAIN 2
Once again Boro have only themselves to blame as they returned to their bad old ways, throwing away yet another two goal lead, this time against Maltby Main at a chilly Queensgate
Manager Brian France made two enforced changes, Richard Medcalf and Mark Griffin returned to the side, taking the places of the suspended Ryan Blott and Scott Phillips, Craig Evans retained his place on the bench were he was joined by the returning Luke Craven, and striker Paul Routledge.
Unfortunately there was no place for new signing Rob Northen, who had picked up a slight groin strain in training.
The opening minutes of the game were very scrappy, with both sides poor in possession, the first chance for Boro came from a throw in from the left, the ball eventually fell to Rob Ellis, who hit a terrific shot goalwards, were it spectacularly tipped away by Maltby keeper Jamie Lee Bailey.
The visitors’ first chance arrived a minute later, but Robert Branagan’s effort was way off target.
Joel Hartley was coming into the game and he sent in a right wing cross for Craig Hogg but he headed wide, then it was the turn of his strike partner Medcalf but he was just off target with a shot on the turn.
Boro were now getting up a head of steam without creating any clear-cut chances, with both Danny Moore and Mark Griffin being well off target.
The away side were hardly showing in forward positions but Arran Reid had to be alert to turn away a shot from Scott Whittington, but it wasn’t long before Boro were back on the attack, but weak shots by Hartley and Medcalf were saved.
Boro were now well in control and had three chances in quick succession, firstly a cross by Hartley was headed over by Ellis, then skipper Dave Kemp headed over a Patrick Miller corner, and finally Medcalf’s shot was easily saved by Bailey.
Just when it seemed the sides would go into the break all square, out of the blue Boro took the lead, a ball from the back by Dave Ricardo, found Medcalf in space down the right, and his first time cross was fired home by an onrushing Hogg, giving Bailey no chance in the Maltby goal.
The earlier parts of the second half were very much a likeness of the first, lots of Boro chances, the first fell Hartley, but he fired over when well placed, then the same players cross cum shot was tipped over by Bailey, from the resultant corner, the ball eventually fell to Mark Griffin, but his shot was straight at Bailey.
Just after the hour mark Boro doubled their lead, a free kick was crossed in from the left by Miller, Bailey in the Maltby goal under no pressure, made a complete hash of his clearance, the ball fell to Hartley who prodded it forward for Hogg to tap into an empty net.
The first caution of the game came midway through the half when James Radford was cautioned for upending Hartley.
Five minutes later, Boro should have wrapped up the points, when a pinpoint cross from Hartley found Hogg totally unmarked 6 yards out, but he somehow completely missed the ball.
Then Medcalf again provided a flick on from a Hartley cross, but this time Hogg headed over, then when Medcalf and Hogg combined, Medcalf finally getting a shot away which Bailey managed to turn away with his elbow, when the ball eventually found its way back into the area, Hogg’s tremendous close range header was again turned over by Bailey.
These missed chances came back to haunt the home side when Maltby stunned the Boro faithful with two goals in two minutes.
There looked no danger but a non-existent defence allowed the ball to find Greg Mason in the box, and after some neat control, he fired past Reid to half the deficit.
Unfortunately Boro didn’t heed the warning, and when a cross from the right, found an unmarked Mason, and with not a defender in sight, he smashed the ball into the bottom corner, past a bewildered Reid.
Boro tried to find the winner, and a cross from the left by sub Routledge fell to full back Danny Moore, Bailey turned his powerful left foot shot away for a corner.
Once again, as on a few occasions this season, Boro failed to put away the opposition when totally in command, hopefully they can make amends when the same two teams meet again next Saturday.

Boro: Reid, Moore, Miller, Hartas, Kemp (c), Ricardo, Hartley, Ellis, Medcalf, Hogg, Griffin (Routledge 85), Goals: Hogg 45, 60, Booked: Reid. Unused Subs: Craven, Evans.