Boro’s title hopes took a major setback as they lost a thrilling game to fellow high flyers Grunwald. The first half was tight and cagey as Boro started the better but after ten minutes the visitors started to apply the pressure. The opening goal came around the half hour mark and another defensive mistake cost the home side the goal. A ball was played across the box and with it being short the Grunwald forward nipped in to home in on Ian Humphries and fire home. The only real opening for Boro before the interval came from a great bit of improvisation from Ross Deegan. The ball was played into Boro's top scorer and he flicked the ball over his shoulder on the turn to deceive the defender and as he beat the advancing goalkeeper his deft finish did not have enough on it and was cleared off the line.
Stern words were said in the home sides dressing room and Boro came out a different side. Grunwald were cut open on the right and James Andy homed in on goal but delayed his finish and the winger had to slot Deegan in 5 yards out. Deegan's shot was blocked but luckily came back to Andy and his first time shot was somehow turned behind by the goalkeeper. Then out of nowhere on the break Grunwald fashioned a crossing opportunity from a throw-in and the resulting ball was headed home by the surging midfielders run to make it 2-0. Within 7 minutes it was three as the Grunwald forward took on Ian Rugg for speed Rugg made a last ditch sliding tackle and appeared to turn the ball away superbly only for the official who was on the halfway line to give a bizarre penalty decision. The penalty was just about stroked home by the large Grunwald Target man.
Boro typically got their deserved goal when it seemed too late as Ben Illingworth's tidy through ball was well finished by Deegan as he fired across the goalkeeper into the bottom corner. It was all Boro here on in and Illingworth's header from a corner was kept out by the keeper resulting in a goalmouth scramble that the visitors cleared. Another good Andy corner was headed goal bound by Ryan Butt only to be cleared off the line by the defender on the post and as the ball spiralled up in the air, Butt was clearly fouled challenging for the second ball but Boro were getting nothing from the referee. Symon Wright who came on at half time went close with a well-placed shot only to see the inspirational keeper tip it over the bar. Then late in the game a handball in the box was spotted and James Andy converted a perfect penalty into the bottom corner to set up a thrilling finale. As Boro streamed forward the ball came to Joe O'Brien on the edge of the box and he dispatched an amazing volley that was dipping perfectly under the crossbar. Grunwald's keeper astonishingly back-peddled to tip it over once more and from the resulting corner another goalmouth scramble ensued but nothing was falling for Boro whom will wonder how Grunwald took 6 points off them this season.
