There was late drama as injury-hit Boro conceded a stoppage time equaliser, and also had Luca Colville sent off, as visitors King’s Lynn snatched a point from a 1-1 draw, despite Boro having been the better side for much of the game. Top scorer Ste Walker (groin strain) and winger Harry Green (hip injury) joined Lewis Maloney and Jake Hull on the sick list, while Alex Purver was suspended, with boss Jono Greening naming three reserve team players, centre-back Taylor Hide and midfielders Jake Reeves and Luca Stuttard on the subs bench.
With a strong wind at their backs, Boro made a flying start, both Rio Allan and Dom Tear unable to convert chances in the opening three minutes. Colville and Jack Waldron both played some lovely through balls, and Alex Wiles, in his first start since October got in some crunching tackles as Boro dictated play in the early stages, without testing giant keeper Aaron Chapman. In King’s Lynn attacks, the excellent Will Thornton tackled Ross Crane in the box, Kieran Weledji kicked clear when Terry Bondo raced through, and Ryan Whitley smothered a snap shot from Bondo. Debutant Carlton Ubaezuonu, newly signed from Scunthorpe, then fired straight at Whitley.
Waldron curled a corner onto the roof of the net and the pacy Allan had a fierce shot blocked by Tom Wilson, before the deadlock was broken by the impressive Colville, whose 30-yard free kick wide on the right after a foul on Allan, sailed through a crowded goalmouth past keeper Chapman. A mazy Colville dribble past three defenders was then ended by a Rhys Doherty tackle on the edge of the area, and a powerful strike from Waldron was blocked by Michael Clunan. Dom Tear was on top form, winning tackles and sending passes forward, but the Lynn defence stood firm, as Boro went into the interval with a one-goal lead.
The visitors, now with the wind in their favour, started the second half strongly, and a Jayden Davis ball to the back post was tapped home by Crane, who had strayed marginally offside, Bondo burst forward but was halted by a superb Weledji tackle, Crane blazed high over, and Thornton tackled Ubaezuonu as he ran into the area. Boro weathered the storm, and again took control of the game, Michael Duckworth fired a 25-yard free kick over the bar, Richie Bennett glanced a header wide from a Waldron cross, and a long throw into the area from Waldron was headed into the goalmouth by Thornton, but Wilson headed to safety.
It was an entertaining game despite neither keeper being really tested, although Whitley did well to dive to grab a low cross from Crane, and he also gathered a couple of high balls into his area. King’s Lynn made a series of substitutions, but rarely looked likely to draw level until late in the game, when a Wilson snap-shot was blocked by Alex Brown. Boro had a chance to seal the points, when Tear teed up Alan, who fired wide of the left-hand post. The visitors then went down the other end, and Festus Arthur laid off to fellow sub Adam Marriott, who drilled a low shot under keeper Whitley to snatch a late leveller. Then a bust up in front of the visiting dug outs, deep into stoppage time saw Colville red carded after a heated clash with a King’s Lynn player.
