RADCLIFFE Borough and Ramsbottom United shared the spoils at Stainton Park in Tuesday’s night’s first Evo-Stik Division One North derby of the season.

Borough took the lead in the first half through the returning Brad Robinson but former Radcliffe man Tom Brooks netted a leveller in the second period.

And when James Mullineux was sent off moments after the equaliser, it was Boro who were happiest with a point at the final whistle.

In front of a healthy crowd of 241, it was an even start to the game with both sides playing at a frenetic pace and having their fair share of chances.

The Rams had the first real opening when Radcliffe-based striker Lee Gaskell fired just wide from the edge of the box.

Then the hosts could have gone ahead when Matty Chadwick picked up a poor clearance from Rams stopper Grant Shenton but fired his effort over the bar.

Brad Robinson saw an effort go across goal and wide before Rams namesake Jon saw a shot saved by new Boro keeper Chris Cheetham.

The deadlock was finally broken on 24 minutes and it was Brad Robinson who got the goal for Kevin Glendon’s hosts.

Following a good move down the right, the Boro man was on hand to score with a fierce angled drive that gave Shenton no chance.

The Rams responded well and Jon Robinson was only denied by some desperate defending before Danny Warrender’s header was nodded off the Boro line.

Gary Stopforth thought he had equalised just before the break but the whistle had already been blown for a foul on Cheetham.

Anthony Johnson, who was celebrating his birthday, and Bernard Morley’s Rams came out kicking down the Stainton Park slope in the second period and Jon Robinson had an early chance before a brave save at his feet by Cheetham.

Then they went even closer when Billy Priestley’s header came back off the Boro post. Boro were riding their luck but it would run out following a double substitution midway through the half.

Brooks and Jordan Hulme replaced Gaskell and Jon Robinson and it was the former who got Rammy on level terms a minute after his introduction with his first touch against his old side, poking home past Cheetham after good link-up play by Warrender and Stopforth.

The visitors had the momentum now and when Boro skipper Mullineux saw red on 70 minutes for a stray arm in Phil Dean’s face, they were favourites to go on and win.

Brooks, Hulme and Stopforth all had chances and in the final minute, Hulme saw an effort drift agonisingly wide of the post.

Stubborn defending from Boro meant it ended one apiece, though United left disappointed they could not make the extra man count in the final quarter.

Boro stay bottom with their second point vof the campaign, while Rammy sit three places higher on eight points after Tuesday’s draw.