Harrogate and Boston shared the spoils in a rugged play-off battle at Wetherby Road.
For Town, Paul Beesley started at number ten and Joe Colbeck replaced the injured Jack Emmett on the wing.
Town almost took a first minute lead when Colbeck’s corner was just out of Paul Clayton’s reach.
Boston hit back with Lewis Turner blocking a dangerous cross from Jay Rollings.
Soon afterwards,an excellent move between Dayle Southwell, Dylan McEvoy and Rollings ended with the latter heading well wide.
A period of strong Towmn pressure ended with visiting keeper, Fabian Speiss tipping Turner’s twenty yard drive over the bar.
Two free kicks late in the half presented Town with chances,but firstly, Brendan Daniels ballooned way over the top and Jordan Thewlis sliced well wide.
Immediately after the break, Boston skipper,Scott Garner, was booked for a foul on Town’s “Man of the Match”,Tom Platt.
A long throw from Zac Mills caused consternation in Town’s defence, but Danny Ellis cleared the danger with a powerful header.
However,on fifty minutes,Town almost took the lead when Clayton lobbed a through ball from Ellis past Speiss, only for the ball to go just the wrong side of the upright.
Beesley’s last action before being subbed by Mason Warren was to stab the ball narrowly wide after Boston failed to clear.
Luke Foster,who had replaced Dave McGurk at half time, had to make a last ditch clearance to keep out a searching Rollings cross.
Warren picked up a booking,but redeemed himself immediately afterwards an excellent through ball which sent Thewlis clear, but Speiss dived at his feet to snuff out the danger.
A late slip from Foster almost let in Southwell, but he shot tamely at Peter Crook.
Yet another long throw from Mills almost let in Garner, but Crook bravely dived at his feet to avert the danger.
Town almost snatched victory in stoppage time when Speiss made two diving saves in quick succession to keep out Warren and Daniels.
Town
1 Crook, 2 Turner (Thewlis 27), 3 Swain, 4 Platt, 5 Ellis (c), 6 McGurk (Foster 45), 7 Colbeck, 8 Kerry, 9 Clayton, 10 Beesley (Warren 55), 11 Daniels.
Unused subs,14 Gascoigne,17 Thirlwell. Booking Warren
Man of the Match Platt. Att.1027
By John Harrison.
