UNCHANGED BORO BEAT STRUGGLING LIVERSEDGE 5-1

Boss Paul Olsson had the luxury of naming the same side for the second consecutive game, and also named the same five substitutes from the victory over Tadcaster Albion.

Chris Jenkinson

The first half was possibly the most open game of football you are likely to see, and the score at the break could have been 6-4, as both teams decided they wouldn’t play with a defence.

The first chance fell to the visitors when James Hurtley beat the offside trap, and crossed for Ben Hardy, but his shot was straight at Tom Woodhead.

Boro’s first opportunity came when Ryan Blott’s flick found Bill Law, but he couldn’t beat visiting keeper Lee Ashworth

Boro took the lead after seventeen minutes, Blott was put clear on the right, his cross intended for Law, was inadvertently turned into his own net by Darryl Leach.

The goal didn’t settle Boro and it was the visitors who came forward, albeit helped by some awful defending by the home side, who were intent on playing a high line which allowed Andrew Shuttleworth the opportunity to skip past two challenges before firing just wide.

Then a poor defensive header by Chris Jenkinson allowed the ever-dangerous Hardy to flick the ball over Boro’s centre back before volleying just over.

So it was no surprise when the equaliser finally arrived, but again it was down to some comical defending, an attack down Boro’s right, ended with three Liversedge players totally unmarked, and it was left to Hardy to run in on goal before easily beating Woodhead.

It could have been worse three minutes later, when Hardy again had the freedom of Queensgate, only a goal-line clearance by Mike Gibson kept the scores level.

Boro decided it was their turn to attack, and they won a penalty five minutes before half time, Blott was blatantly tugged back by Corry Larkin, before being hacked down by the same player, leaving the referee no option to point to the spot, unfortunately Blott’s kick was superbly turned away by Ashworth.

Boro did retake the lead two minutes later; a Richard Dunning in swinging free kick was left by everyone apart from the onrushing Jenkinson who tapped in from two yards out.

Back came Liversedge and Hardy must still be wondering how he didn’t score when clean through with only Woodhead to beat, then Law’s first touch up the other end let him down when faced with an open goal.

Boro ended the craziest of halves by scoring again, right on time, Blott was put through from midfield and he ran unmarked before smashing the ball past Ashworth.

Both managers must have told their players at the break that it was eleven a side they were playing, as this half was a much more sedate affair, with Boro always in command.

Blott was unlucky early on when he played a neat one-two with Frank Belt; his shot was turned over by full back Gareth Saville.

Boro made two changes midway through the half with Joel Hartley replacing Brenton Leister and Rich Medcalf coming on for Law, and it was Medcalf who secured the points with a late brace.

His first came when Jenkinson intercepted a through ball carried it forward before playing in Medcalf, who then ran forward before sending a sublime chip over Ashworth into the top corner.

Then Hartley released Dunning who crossed for “Meddy” to head in at the near post, in between these two goals Belt let fly with a blistering shot from the edge of the area that lifted Ashworth off his feet.

Thanks to official site for report.