WITH the Unibond cup at the weekend leaving Boro without a fixture, manager Kevin Glendon was anxious to get his side some match action before entertaining Spennymoor United at Stainton Park on Saturday.

A hastily arranged friendly at Unibond First Division Rossendale United on Monday night was called off due to a waterlogged pitch, and at the last minute was replaced by a trip to Seel Street to take on NWCFL First Division side Mossley.

And it was the Lillywhites who were unfortunate not to claim a victory after a thoroughly one-sided first half saw them take a deserved 2-0 lead.

Boro keeper Danny Hurst had been called into action early on to deny Mossley's Alan Bailey on a number of occasions.

The pressure told and the home side took a deserved lead on 39 minutes when Rob Matthews set up Tony Carroll, who slotted home from 15 yards.

The lead was then doubled on 43 minutes when Steve Tobin's cross found Matt Hughes at the far post, and he rifled home after earlier hitting the bar. Both sides made substitutions at half time and Boro looked far more interested in the second half, testing Mossley 'keeper Phil Melville early on.

Hurst was still kept busy at the other end, denying Bailey again when he was put through one-on-one, but Boro pulled a goal back almost immediately when Josh Mitten's shot somehow found it's way through a mass of bodies.

Boro then equalised ten minutes from time when Paul Wheatcroft found himself unmarked on the left and coolly slotted the ball past the stranded Melville.

Despite getting back on to level terms it was Mossley who came closest to claiming a win, but Danny Hurst, who had been outstanding throughout, kept the home side at bay to earn Boro a hard fought draw.