RADCLIFFE Boro notched their first point of the season - but it should have been three as they failed to turn their dominance into goals against a hard-working Leek outfit on Tuesday night.
Boro did everything but score against their Staffordshire rivals, but will feel aggrieved not to have been given a blatant second-half penalty that might have opened the floodgates.
Entertainment was in abundance as Boro played slick, pass and move football that left Leek chasing shadows under the Stainton Park floodlights.
However, Boro failed to capitalise on their dominance into goals, and that is something that worries manager Andy Johnston.
"We were fantastic against Leek, and I will never know how we didn't get a victory," said Johnston.
"However, we need to start scoring because we started off exactly the same last season and it nearly cost us.
"All the lads worked hard, and played at a high tempo for 90 minutes. Danny Hurst (keeper) was never in trouble, and didn't really have a save to make.
"Kieran (Lugsden) came into the dressing room after the game and said he couldn't believe he wasn't awarded a penalty when he was hacked down, but these things happen and we have to get on with it.
"We might play badly on Saturday, and win. That's football."
Boro flew out of the blocks, and Martyn Forrest, Lugsden and Scott Wilson all had efforts on goal, while Lee Duffy was proving inspirational down the right flank.
The closest Boro came to scoring was in the 17th minute when Tony Evans saw his effort roll agonisingly wide of the post with the keeper well beaten.
However, Leek did have their moments and Boro were saved by skipper Simon Kelly when he made a brilliant saving tackle to deny Anthony Danylyk.
Andy Heald tested the Leek rearguard with some well-flighted free-kicks, and Forrest was unlucky to see his shot blocked by a defender, and Boro were forced into the interval on level terms. It was a familiar story in the second half, with Wilson mis-kicking an early effort after Lugsden had seen his cross palmed into the midfielder's path by Neil Thompson.
Boro should have been awarded a penalty in the 65th minute when Lugsden was cynically hacked down by Ashley Wooliscroft, and that reprieve seemed to breath fresh confidence into Leek.
Wooliscroft hit the bar with a rasping shot from the edge of the area, before Kelly was again pressed into action after Ian Kearney had been mugged by Danylyk. Boro continued to pile forward and the game became stretched with substitute Pat McFadden looking lively, but it was not to be and Boro were left to settle for a point.
Boro had started their league campaign with a 3-1 defeat at Kendal on Saturday, Kearney on the scoresheet.
On Saturday, Boro host Hednesford Town, before a trip to North Ferriby United on Monday (both 3pm ko).
BORO: Hurst, Duffy, Hill, Kelly, Kearney, Warner, Wilson, Forrest (Miller), Evans (McFadden), Lugsden, Heald (O'Neill).
RADCLIFFE BORO 0 LEEK TOWN 0
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